65-year-old British man Bernard Randall (pictured) is facing trial in Uganda after police found pictures on his laptop of him having sex with another man.
Last month, Randall pleaded not guilty in a Ugandan court to charges of “trafficking obscene publications”, after his laptop was stolen and the pictures on the computer were leaked to a Ugandan tabloid known for publishing salacious sex stories.
“It was private images on a private computer,” Randall said in an interview. “If any trafficking was done, it was by the robbers who took the laptop, and the newspaper for printing them.”
Homosexuality is considered a crime in Uganda. The government has been cracking down on gay activists recently, and has even proposed legislation that would impose the death penalty for certain homosexual acts. It’s been nicknamed the “Kill the Gays” bill.
Randall is currently looking at a potential two year sentence for his offense. His partner in the pictures, a Ugandan man, has been accused of carrying out “acts of gross indecency”, which carries a sentence of up to seven years.
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Randall said that after the photos leaked, he became “terrified.”
“I’ve put padlocks on the windows, checked all the locks on the doors,” he claimed, adding he had feared gangs might seek to attack him.
Randall is originally from Kent in southeast England. He first visited Uganda in 2011, shortly after his wife died just shy of their 40-year wedding anniversary. It was after her death that he came out as homosexual.
He returned to Uganda in September of this year. Days after he arrived, someone broke into where he was staying and stole his cash, cellphone, and computer. The thieves first tried to blackmail Randall. When he didn’t comply with their demands, the images on the laptop were passed off to the newspaper, which prompted police to arrest him. He was then taken for a medical examination to “check” his homosexuality before being officially charged.
Randall is next due to appear in court on November 18.
Photo credit: BBC.
DarkZephyr
Why in God’s name would he willingly return to that evil place?
Ruhlmann
With pictures of homosexual sex acts on his computer.
ouragannyc
@DarkZephyr: Why would he return? Why did he go there in the first place?
He was taken to the doctor to “check” his homosexuality? I wonder what voodoo medicine they have over there!
Kieran
Since Uganda is a member of the British Commonwealth the queen should issue him a royal pardon. (Not that the Ugandans would pay any attention ofcourse, but it would atleast be a gesture)
Rockery
@DarkZephyr:
His partner is Ugandan. Why he wouldn’t fly him to England I have no idea
Kangol
@ouragannyc:
Please stop it with the “voodoo medicine.”
Uganda’s anti-gay laws are being promoted and underwritten by white American evangelical Christian fanatics. That is the problem.
This man is the unfortunate victim of a homophobic system that should be dismantled. And not just in Uganda.
darkanser
I’m wondering why a man who’s been married to a woman for 40 years would choose to “come out” or explore his new lifestyle in Uganda of all places. Might this have something to do with his advanced age and exchange rates by any chance?
21stCenturyBear
Rather than berating the poor man maybe we could show him some compassion and petition our own governments to bring some politic pressure on such oppressive regimes
stadacona
Old pensioner buying young men in the third world…are we supposed to have sympathy for this creep? I don’t.
Harley
@stadacona: So, you are saying he DESERVES the death penalty? Just asking.
fagburn
“The Ugandan man, who has denied a more serious charge of carrying out “acts of gross indecency” which could see him jailed for up to seven years if found guilty.”
So why foreground the western white man, Queerty?
AuntieChrist
I went to Africa ONCE. I was mugged and robbed within the first hour of my visit. By the taxi driver!!!!!!
ouragannyc
@Kangol: Clearly, I meant “voodoo medicine” as a joke. I was referring to the fact that the man was taken to the doctor to check if he was gay.
Indeed, you are correct. The christian right is behind the rise of institutionalized homophobia in Africa.
AuntieChrist
@ouragannyc: It’s ok sweet pea. I think we need to state tongue in cheek. Apparently online. The humor is not obvious. I think everything is a joke. But that is just me. We can blame Christianity for all the ills of the world. But the true culprit is gullibility and a persons willingness to surrender their common sense.