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Pride event in Uganda disrupted by police; leaders briefly detained

Click to play video: 'Police raid Pride event in Uganda'
Police raid Pride event in Uganda
WATCH: A Ugandan photographer on Friday described the moment when police broke up a gay pride event in the capital and arrested some of those attending – Aug 5, 2016

KAMPALA, Uganda – A gay rights leader in Uganda says he and some of his colleagues were briefly detained by police who broke up a gay pride event in the Ugandan capital.

Frank Mugisha said Friday he and about 20 others attending a fashion show at a Kampala nightclub late Thursday were arrested and taken to a police station for questioning. Mugisha said they were released over two hours later without being charged, although some said they had been slapped by officers.

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He said one man trying to escape arrest had injured himself while trying to jump to safety.

Patrick Onyango, a spokesman for Ugandan police, confirmed the arrests but gave no details.

Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda under a colonial-era law that prohibits sex acts “against the order of nature.”

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