Ugandan Activists Fight in Court Against Minister Lokodo’s Anti-Gay Persecution

By Melanie Nathan, July 08, 2012.

Ugandan Activists are fighting back after the Ugandan Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Hon. Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo closed down a private meeting of LGBTI community at a luxury resort in Entebbe, accusing the group of illegally “promoting” homosexuality.

Four members of the LGBTI community in Uganda sued the Attorney General and the minister  for interrupting and closing the workshop in Entebbe, citing their action to be unlawful and baseless.

The case came before Judge Eldad and was adjourned for the second time until the 24^th September 2012.

Frank Mugisha, Kasha Jacqueline, Geoffrey Ogwaro and Pepe Julian sued the Attorney General and the honorable minister for unlawfully interrupting a capacity building workshop which was into its third day, at the Imperial Resort Beach in Entebbe.

Here is the Report provided from a group present at the hearing:

Procedure:

There was a recap of the events of the first hearing with the presentation of files to a fully packed court. An argument ensued on whether or not it was necessary for the lawyer to be present.

The state attorney requested for an adjournment saying that the respondents were not prepared. The second respondent was out of the country and couldn’t be available for cross examination. It was argued that  there was a number of files containing important information which they wished to discuss further. These files she said would assist the court to look at the matter in context and unfortunately they weren’t able to do that between 2^nd and 6^th as requested. She therefore requested the court to adjourn to enable the respondents to file for other affidavits.

The plaintiff lawyers objected to the request for an adjournment saying that the defendants were given ample time to file these affidavits, quoting order rule 8 of the Civil Procedure Act that stipulates that they must have compiled these affidavits in 30 days after they had been served.

Facts

It was agreed that on 14^th Feb., the second respondent, Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Hon. Lokodo interrupted and closed down a workshop that was attended by several members of the general public and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex community in Uganda as the workshop was proceeding at 11:00am on the 3^rd day.

Issues

Some of the issues that were raised included

• Whether the applicants by organizing the conference acted illegally and unlawfully
• Whether then respondents infringed on the rights of the applicants when they closed the workshop
• Whether the suit against the 2^nd respondent is competent before court
• The remedies and costs.

Court adjourned till 24^th September since court closes for vacation next week Friday. The judge demanded that the defense should present the second respondent for cross examination.

This is an extraordinarily courageous attempt by the LGBT activists against what has since become an ongoing process of persecution against the community under the guise of suspect government actions, the legalities of which must be determined.

Since that event, the Minister has launched a raid against another workshop where Uganda hosted visitors from neighboring countries, has seized private meeting minutes and has threatened to close down 38 NGO’s providing support to community.

Read more of the event that resulted in this action at : http://oblogdeeoblogda.me/2012/02/14/ugandan-minister-illegally-kicks-gays-out-of-luxury-resort-in-entebbe/