Uganda’s highest court could decide on Friday if the country’s draconian anti-homosexuality law should be repealed.

Signed by President Yoweri Museveni in February, it has attracted international criticism, resulting in several countries cutting aid to the Ugandan Government.

LGBT campaigners have petitioned the Constitutional Court, arguing the law violates the constitutional right to privacy and dignity, as well as the right to be free from discrimination, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

The activists also argue it was passed last December without the necessary quorum of MPs.

Judges are expected to rule on the quorum issue tomorrow.

LGBT campaigner Frank Mugisha, one of the petitioners, told AFP he was optimistic that judges would rule in favour of scrapping the law.

He said: “I think that we could have a very good judgment tomorrow, and if we get that judgment then it’s over – and we just have to celebrate”.

However, State Attorney Patricia Mutesa has dismissed complaints about the quorum.

The law has extended the previous maximum penalty of life imprisonment for anal intercourse to a mandatory life sentence for any same-sex act, even mere kissing and touching with another same-sex person.

It has also introduced maximum sentences of five to seven years imprisonment for aiding, abetting, counselling or promoting homosexuality, including advocating LGBT rights and funding or assisting LGBT people or events.