Uganda's Constitutional Court ruled its recently passed Anti-Homosexuality Act, which carries penalties of up to life in prison for engaging in homosexual activity and which criminalizes the mere advocacy of LGBT rights, to be invalid. The Court determined that Parliament had failed to have a quorum present when the Act was passed, thus invalidating its passage. The Court did NOT rule of other challenges based on the Act's obvious disregard of basic human rights. The ruling can be appealed to the Ugandan Supreme Court.
http://abcnews.go.com/...
Supporters of the law can try to repass it with a quorum present. Also, there are fears that the overturning of the law will lead to mob violence against the LGBT community there. But, to a certain extent, this will take pressure off President Museveni to take action against the law, pressure which has come from the US and EU donor community.
Since the passage of the Act last December, there has been a 20-fold increase in assaults on Uganda's LGBT community. The court system in Uganda is viewed as not being independant, especially from the Musaveni government. Musaveni is coming to the US next week, so this can be expected to be perceived as coming at too opportune a time by those who backed the odious law. They see it as bowing to Western donors:
"This ruling has got nothing to do with the will of the people," said Martin Ssempa, a prominent Ugandan cleric who has led street marches in support of the anti-gay measure. "Unfortunately, it has everything to do with pressure from Barack Obama and the homosexuals of Europe."
Initial Analysis: While the invalidation of the law is good news, it bears repeating that this was done on technicality -- the failure to have a quorum present when the Act passed. This sort of thing can be "rectified" all too easily. And it comes the week before President Mudaveni is scheduled to come to Washington. A little too convenient, given how this has become a major issue between the two countries. Washington, and specifically President Obama, needs to let President Musaveni know that, while the invalidation of the Act is a step forward, any attempt to resuscitate it will be met with strong sanctions.