The British producer of a play about being gay in Uganda is in jail pending his trial on charges that he had the work performed without official authorisation.

David Cecil appeared in court in Kampala today charged with "disobeying lawful orders" from the Uganda Media Council, which says he staged The River and the Mountain in Uganda's capital last month despite orders to the contrary.

Mr Cecil's lawyer, Francis Onyango, said his client was not released on bail because his passport, wanted by the magistrate, had been confiscated by the police.

Mr Cecil told The Associated Press that the play, whose main character is a gay businessman who finally gets killed by his own employees, was performed eight times at little-known theatres in Kampala last month.

He faces two years in jail if convicted.