2 Ugandans Go on Trial Over Homosexual Offenses

A Ugandan court has started hearing the case against two Ugandans accused of engaging in gay sex, the trial since a severe law was enacted in February.

They appeared Wednesday before a magistrate's court in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, to apply for bail after prosecutors said they had enough evidence to proceed with the case.

The Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum, a local watchdog group, said that Ugandan police arrested the couple in January as they fled an angry mob.

They were charged with engaging in acts "against the order of nature."

Although Uganda has had anti-gay legislation since the colonial era, the country's president enacted a law in February that strengthened penalties against gay sex.