Det kan godt være Ugandas politikere ikke vil de homoseksuelle det godt, men landets retsvæsen har iskoldt ladet politiet forstå, at dets materiale mod et teaterstykke om homoseksuelle var papirstyndt.
A court in Uganda has thrown out a case against UK theatre producer David Cecil, who was charged over a play about the condition of gay people, BBC online reports Wednesday.
Mr Cecil told the BBC the case was dismissed either because of a “lack of will or a lack of evidence” to try him.
He was arrested in September for “disobeying lawful orders”, because the play The River and the Mountain was performed without authorisation.
Homosexual acts are illegal in socially conservative Uganda, and the East african countrys parliament is considering legislation aimed at increasing penalties for homosexual acts.
Mr Cecil faced up to two years in jail if convicted. He was freed on bail (mod kaution) of 500.000 shillings (200 US dollar).
“Today’s [Wednesday’s] outcome demonstrates there is a functioning judiciary in Uganda and it has restored my faith in Ugandan society,” Mr Cecil said.
The prosecution told the magistrate that police had not yet given them a case file, he said.
The play, which tells the story of a gay businessman killed by his own employees, was performed at two theatres in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, in August.
The Media Council had warned the play’s backers not to perform it until it had been approved.
Gay people have faced physical attacks and social rejection in Uganda. In 2011, activist David Kato was beaten to death but police denied this was related to his sexuality.
