POLICE PROTECT UGANDA GAY PRIDE MARCHERS

Around 200 LGBT Ugandans took part in the third annual Uganda Gay Pride on the weekend.

The Beach Pride Uganda parade and celebration was held on the beaches of Lake Victoria in the town of Entebbe on Saturday.

Participants, some understandably wearing masks to hide their identities, paraded through the botanical gardens, holding up rainbow flags and signs calling for equality and an end to homophobia.

Surprisingly, local police provided protection for the participants, a far cry from police raids that marked the inaugural Pride in 2012.

Pictures of the event were posted on social media while many around the word tweeted their support and good wishes for the festivities.

“We had a wonderful day at the beach on the shore of Lake Victoria. Numbers were less than last year but definitely memorable,” commented one participant.

The Pride Uganda Twitter profile proclaimed: “And who said God hates gays?!!! Perfect weather!”

Activist Kasha Jacqueline tweeted: “Pride was a great success. Thank you Uganda/Entebbe police for the support. Everyone was amazing. thanx Pride committee.”

The event was the first LGBT public gathering since the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Act was annulled by the Constitutional Court just over a week ago.

Whether it was an unfortunate coincidence or strategically timed, the attorney general chose the same day as Pride to announce that the state had filed an appeal with the Supreme Court to challenge the annulment.

Even without the Anti-Homosexuality Act in place, gay sex remains illegal in Uganda with penalties including life imprisonment.