A Ugandan court on Tuesday dismissed a petition by an LGBT advocacy group seeking to compel the government to register it, a lawyer for the petitioner said.
In 2015, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) initially lodged a lawsuit in the nation’s high court after the government’s registrar of companies declined to register it.
This refusal, which prevented the organization from operating legally, was based on the registrar’s assertion that the organization’s name was deemed “undesirable.”
Additionally, it stated that the organization advocated for the rights of individuals whose lifestyles were considered illegal under Ugandan laws. In 2022, the Ugandan government suspended SMUG’s activities due to its lack of official registration.
The appellate court that issued the judgment is the same that acts as the constitutional court expected to soon rule on a challenge to Anti-Homosexuality Act, which carries the death penalty for certain same-sex acts and terms of imprisonment up to 20 years.
In December, a legal challenge against the law was presented to the court. LGBT rights activists anticipate a decision to be made soon.
SMUG’s attorney, Edward Ssemambo, expressed uncertainty about the upcoming ruling regarding the anti-LGBT law. He mentioned that the petition addressed broader political and economic matters, which could influence the judges’ decision-making process.
