Uganda: Gay British banker ‘terrified’ ahead of porn trial
A gay retired British banker, charged over possession of a video depicting a sexual act, is due to reappear in a Ugandan court next week.
A Ugandan man was also charged with committing “acts of gross indecency” – he denies the charges.
Mr Randell, who has pleaded not guilty, claims the film was unearthed by robbers who stole his laptop and passed the footage to the newspaper.
“It was private images on a private computer,” Mr Randall said, describing his horror at seeing personal photographs printed in the newspaper.
“If any trafficking was done, it was by the robbers who took the laptop, and the newspaper for printing them.”
The 65-year-old is too afraid to leave his Kampala home. “I was terrified…. I’ve put padlocks on the windows, checked all the locks on the doors,” Mr Randall said, adding he had feared vigilante gangs might seek to attack him.
British actor and writer Stephen Fry has supported the campaign calling for charges to be dropped.
“We want our friend home,” he wrote in a message on Twitter. “Please help to stop his persecution in Uganda.”
Same-sex sexual relationships are illegal in the African country with little to no legal protections existing for the LGBT community.
A male convicted of same-sex activity can face up to life behind bars while a woman can face up to seven years.
