By Steven Enatu
SOROTI CITY
The Director of Public Prosecutions has amended a charge against a 20 year old Soroti man previously charged of aggravated homosexuality.
Michael Opolot has instead been charged with an unnatural offense today, 28th February, 2024 and is set to appear before chief magistrate court on 6th March, 2024 in Soroti City.
Opolot allegedly performed the act during the MK Baraza for Teso at Soroti sports ground on the 16th /08/2023 at around 00:30AM.
His case was amended after his file was submitted to the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution in Kampala that preferred that he is charged with unlawful offense.
This is punishable under section 154 of the penal code act and attracts a life imprisonment if found guilty.
Unnatural offences under Section 154 of the Penal Code Act are; (a) Any person who has carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature; (b) has carnal knowledge of an animal; or (c) permits a male person to have carnal knowledge of him or her against the order of nature, commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for life.
He was previously charged for aggravated Homosexuality under the Anti-Homosexuality Act, signed into law in May 2023, which is defined as sexual intercourse with a person older than 75 or younger than 18, who either does not give consent, is unable to give consent, or is a person living with a disability or mentally illness.
The maximum penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” is the death penalty under Section3 of the anti-homosexuality act subsection 2 f and g. This states that a person, who commits the offence of homosexuality in any of the circumstances specified in subsection (2), commits the offence of aggravated homosexuality and is liable, on conviction, to suffer death.
The incident is alleged to have happened in the wee hours when the disabled man was called by the suspect. It’s reported that a police officer found the accused having carnal knowledge of a 41 year old male adult with physical informatics and of unsound mind at Soroti City sports ground where a concert was organized.
The two were promptly arrested and taken to Soroti Central Police Station where a case of unnatural offence vide CRB 187/2023 of Soroti CPS was opened.
