A Ugandan local court, January 2, dismissed a disobedience case against British film producer David Cecil Edward Hugh for secretly staging a play supporting gay rights despite a ban by the Media Council on the play script.
The case was dismissed by Chief Magistrate Esther Nambayo after the State on numerous occasions failed to produce a single witness to testify against the producer.
According to the State, the police file for ‘The River and The Mountain’ writer had never been produced in court as it was still with the Uganda police.
While dismissing the case, the magistrate advised the State to reinstate the charges if they wished so.
Further, the court also ordered that Mr Cecil’s Shs500,000 bail money and passport be returned.
Mr Cecil’s play examined the plight of a man who comes out as a homosexual but the Ugandan government persecutes him for his sexual orientation.
Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda and is punishable under section 145 of the Penal Code Act as a crime against morality.
DailyMonitor
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