Ugandan gay activist murdered

Prominent Ugandan gay activist David Kato has been beaten to death at his home in Mukono.

Kato, the advocacy officer for group Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), was one of the plaintiffs who won a case against Uganda’s Rolling Stone newspaper earlier this month for publishing the names, photos and addresses of a string of Ugandan citizens thought to be gay.

SMUG confirmed Kato’s death in a statement overnight.

“David has been receiving death threats since his face was put on the front page of Rolling Stone Magazine, which called for his death and the death of all homosexuals,” SMUG stated.

“David’s death comes directly after the Supreme Court of Uganda ruled that people must stop inciting violence against homosexuals and must respect the right to privacy and human dignity.”

SMUG called for the police and government to investigate the murder seriously and for religious leaders, politicians, and media to stop demonising LGBT people.

According to The Advocate, David Bahati, a member of parliament with close connections to American evangelicals, continues to push for a bill that would impose the death penalty on gay people in some circumstances.

Australian-born UK human rights activist Peter Tatchell – who is heading to Sydney to headline the Mardi Gras Queer Thinking program this year, paid tribute to Kato in a statement released overnight.

“David will live on in our memories. He will also live on through the rights and equalities that LGBTI Ugandans will win eventually thanks to his many years of tireless groundwork and campaigning,” Tatchell stated.

“I express my admiration and appreciation to all the members of SMUG who are battling for LGBTI freedom in conditions of great adversity and danger. Their courage and tenacity is awesome.

“This savage killing will, I hope, finally prompt Uganda’s political, religious and media leaders to cease their homophobic witch-hunts. Their hatred helps create the bigoted atmosphere that leads to queer-bashing violence.”

Kato is expected to be buried at his ancestral home in Namataba, Mukono District, today.

His friend Matteo Pegoraro called Kato “a noble and extraordinary human rights defender”.

“I met David last February during the Fifth Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders in Dublin organised by Front Line, in cooperation with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,” Pegoraro said.

“100 activists from all over the world took part, people whose lives are in danger due to their human rights activities.

“With me and David were some exceptional people who are no longer with us, including Bety Cariño, who was murdered in Mexico on April 27, 2010, and Georges Kanuma, leader of the LGBT community in Burundi with whom I formed a close friendship that will always occupy a special place in my heart. Georges died of medical negligence last April.

“I remember one thing that both David Kato and Georges Kanuma told me in Dublin, when it was time to say goodbye and return to our own countries: “It’s difficult, but our people need us. We cannot disappoint them or abandon them: it is only by sticking by them, only by continuing our daily struggle for their rights, can we live according to our mission.”

“And they were right. I will carry David and Georges’s words forever in my heart, and try to follow their teachings as the most noble inspiration for facing life. Thank you, dear David, thank you for being with us. We will miss you.”

Val Kalende, the board chair at Freedom and Roam Uganda, said,“David’s death is a result of the hatred planted in Uganda by U.S Evangelicals in 2009. The Ugandan Government and the so-called U.S Evangelicals must take responsibility for David’s blood.”

SMUG executive director Frank Mugisha said, “No form of intimidation will stop our cause. The death of David will only be honored when the struggle for justice and equality is won. David is gone and many of us will follow, but the struggle will be won. David wanted to see a Uganda where all people will be treated equally despite their sexual orientation.”

The U.S. embassy in Kampala has also issued a statement on Kato’s death:

“The U.S. extends its sympathies to David’s family, friends and human rights colleagues. David’s courageous devotion to promoting the universal human rights of members of Uganda’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community improved the lives of minority populations in Uganda and throughout Africa, and his selfless dedication to defending human rights and speaking out against injustice served as inspiration to human rights defenders around the world.”

UNAIDS has also condemed the killing.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Mr Kato,” UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé said.

“I urge the Government of Uganda to conduct a thorough investigation into his death, as well as to ensure adequate security for its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens.”

Mr Kato’s death comes days after the High Court of Uganda ruled that Uganda’s constitution protects the right to dignity and privacy for all Ugandans regardless of their sexual orientation. Specifically, the court ruled that inciting violence against people based on their sexual orientation threatens their right to human dignity.

This ruling came from a case against a local publication that had published a photograph of Mr Kato and others, urging citizens ‘to hang them because of their sexual orientation’.

Some 80 countries or areas around the world have laws that make same-sex behaviour a criminal offence. UNAIDS believes that such laws are discriminatory and create obstacles for people accessing HIV services.