Caught In The Act

Scene:
Courtroom in Kampala, September 2010

Defendants:
Ten university students, six men, four women. One business owner, a middle-aged woman

May it please the Court.

The accused are charged, individually and severally, under Section 195 of Uganda’s Penal Code, with:

Conspiracy to engage in homosexuality;
promoting homosexuality;
operating a brothel for homosexuality;
failure to disclose homosexuality;
aidingandabettinghomosexuality;
touchinganotherpersonwithintentofhomosexuality;
and terrorism, sedition, the eating of swine, the shaving of beards, wearing cloth of two fabrics, all abominations unto the Lord……

I beg your pardon, Your Honour. Yes, I understand. The Laws of Uganda, not the Laws of Leviticus.

You can read the rest of my courtroom satire on Uganda's proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill in The Last Word column, in February's issue of The Africa Report. It comes out on Monday.