Six men were arrested in Jinja City on suspicion of homosexuality after their video recording went viral on social media.
Their arrest follows the distribution of a 17-second video clip of the four having sex on various social media platforms.
According to police, the faces of two young men are visible in the video, while the other two are hidden.
Mr James Mubi, the Kiira Region Police Spokesperson, told this publication on Friday that they have six men in custody in connection with the video.
“We arrested six men from Mpumudde Ward, Northern Division, Jinja City, using our intelligence; we found them in one room,” Mr Mubi said.
Mr Mubi claims that “three of the men serve the purpose of being women,” and that lubricants, among other fetishes, were found in their room.
Mr Mubi went on to say that the Force is looking for more suspects because they believe the ring is large.
“I’m asking the public for help in identifying other suspects. The police are doing their job, and the public should do the same,” he said, adding that the suspects will be brought to court at any time.
Their arrest brings the total number of suspects arrested for same-sex relationships to eight.
Ms Lydia Mukodha, Deputy Head Teacher of PMM Girls’ School in Jinja City, and her alleged lesbian partner, Ms Martha Naigaga, were arrested on March 3 and remanded in Kirinya Prison until March 28.
President Museveni signed a law in 2014 that imposed life imprisonment for homosexual relationships, but the law was quickly repealed by the Court.
Currently, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill (2023) prohibits same-sex relationships, protects traditional and cultural values, and protects youth and children from lesbian and gay practices, among other things.
The arrest comes just hours after President Museveni called gay people “deviants” and called for an investigation into homosexuality as MPs prepare to vote on the anti-LGBT bill for the third time.
The bill, which was introduced earlier this month, proposes harsh new penalties for same-sex relationships in a country where homosexuality is already illegal, prompting criticism from human rights organisations.
Mr Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, called gay people deviants during a state of the nation address before MPs at the Kololo ceremonial grounds in Kampala, as MPs pressed him to comment on the new legislation.
“Homosexuals are outliers from the norm. Why? Is it a result of nature or nurture? “We have to find answers to these questions,” the 78-year-old said.
“On that, we need a medical opinion. “We’ll go over it thoroughly,” he said.
Anyone who engages in a same-sex activity or identifies as LGBTQ could face up to ten years in prison under the proposed law.
The bill is being introduced as conspiracy theories accusing shadowy international forces of promoting homosexuality gain traction on Ugandan social media.
“Western countries should stop wasting humanity’s time by attempting to impose their practices on other people,” Museveni said in an address boycotted by all opposition legislators except one.
“Cousins and close relatives are married by Europeans and other groups. Marriage within one’s clan is frowned upon here. Should we penalise them for marrying relatives? “This is not our responsibility,” he added.
The bill is scheduled to be discussed next week, with a vote as soon as Tuesday.
