Two women in their 20s have been detained by police in Uganda after they were allegedly seen kissing in public in the northwestern city of Arua.
Police spokesperson Josephine Angucia said neighbours reported the pair, accusing them of practising homosexuality.
Residents also alleged that multiple women frequently visited the suspects’ one-room residence and spent nights there.
Authorities said neighbours photographed the women as evidence, and the case has been forwarded to the state prosecutor for possible court action.
Human rights advocate Frank Mugisha condemned the arrests, warning that Uganda’s anti-gay legislation has fueled blackmail and extortion targeting LGBTQ+ individuals.
If charged and convicted under Uganda’s 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act, the women could face severe penalties, including life imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations.
The law also prescribes the death penalty for what it defines as “aggravated homosexuality,” and has been widely described by rights groups as one of the harshest anti-LGBTQ laws globally.
