Charges dropped against two women in Uganda accused of kissing in public

What the report says

PinkNews reported that prosecutors in Uganda have dropped charges against Wendy Faith and Alesi Diana Denise, two women who had been accused of kissing in public in Arua City in the country’s northwest. LGBTQ+ rights advocate Frank Mugisha said on X on July 15 that Uganda’s Director of Public Prosecutions had permanently ended the case, which had been brought under the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023.

According to the report, the women were arrested on February 18, 2026, detained for more than a week, and granted bail after a February 27 court appearance before being re-arrested shortly afterward. They were denied bail on March 16 and returned to prison, then later granted bail again on April 8. The charges cited Section 2(1)(2) of the law, an offence PinkNews said can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

LGBTQ+ organizations welcomed the decision as an unusual legal victory in Uganda, where the Anti-Homosexuality Act has intensified risks for LGBTQ+ people and those accused of same-sex conduct. Sexual Minorities Uganda thanked supporters who had advocated for the two women, while activists said international attention had focused on the possibility of severe punishment over an alleged public display of affection.

The report also noted continuing safety concerns. Lesbophobia Archive warned that the outcome could provoke threats or mob violence, and PinkNews cited a hostile post from local politician Richard Job Matua suggesting the women could face renewed scrutiny. The case matters because even after a prosecution ends, public accusations linked to homosexuality in Uganda can expose people to stigma, harassment and danger.