Margaret Nankabirwa and partner Lydia Nabukenya have been fearing for their lives since 2014 after they were discovered in bed together in the former’s home.

They were "outed" by a neighbour of Nankabirwa after she had returned from competing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Same-sex sexual acts are illegal in Uganda, where homosexuality is considered immoral and seen as a sin. 

Nankabirwa was able to board a plane to London the same day she was discovered, using a valid travel visa from competing at Glasgow 2014.

She lived alone on the streets of England’s capital before Nabukenya was able to join her.

Several months later, they were split by the Home Office with Nabukenya sent to Manchester and Nankabirwa to Liverpool.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the decision to let the couple stay came just three months after Nabukenya was taken to the Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre in Bedford, prior to imminent deportation.

The deportation was stopped following interventions by Liverpool Riverside Member of Parliament Louise Ellman and asylum campaigner Nadine Daniel.

This allowed for an appeal to be lodged.

It was judged at an initial tribunal in 2016 that Nankabirwa and Nabukenya were not a genuine lesbian couple.

But on appeal it was decided that they would be at risk from persecution if they returned to Uganda on the basis that they were now "perceived" to be lesbian given the publicity surrounding the case.

"I am delighted and excited - that’s an understatement," Nankabirwa told the Liverpool Echo.

"It was a big relief.""

Nankabirwa said she and Nabukenya are now thinking about getting married.

"We can move on with our lives," she added.

Daniel, a national refugee coordinator for the Church of England, campaigned hard on behalf of the couple and appeared as a witness at the recent tribunal.

"It’s been a very stressful 18 months but even the tribunal conceded they were at risk if sent back," she told the Liverpool Echo.

"The courtroom was packed.

"There were people sitting on the floor and others standing.

"How wonderful it was that so many disparate groups came together to support them and that was as impressive as anything that those that gave evidence had to say.

"There were people from her Lancashire badminton team sitting alongside asylum seekers and people from alternative cultures.

"It was moving to see so many people coming together to save Megan and Lydia from deportation."

Nankabirwa was beaten by South Africa’s Elme de Villiers in the round of 64 of the women's singles competition at Glasgow 2014. 

She also competed in the women’s doubles alongside Daisy Nakalyango, losing to England’s Heather Olver and Kate Robertshaw in the round of 32.

In the mixed doubles, Nankabirwa and Wilson Tukire lost to Sri Lanka’s Buwaneka Dullewa and Madushika Beruwalage in the round of 64.