UGANDA: LGBT activist David Kato murdered

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CPTnet
16 February 2011
UGANDA: LGBT activist David Kato murdered
by Andrea Siemens
 

In 2007, members of CPT’s Great Lakes team met with David
Kato and two of his colleagues at Sexual Minorities Uganda.  His murder on 26 January 2011 is a
significant loss to the LGBT community in East Africa.  Kato was an outspoken activist and
faced numerous threats to his life, the most recent after he successfully sued
a Kampala newspaper for publishing his (and others’) photos with a message that
they should be hanged.  His funeral
took place on 28 January.  An
obituary is available here.

 Messages of support and solidarity for SMUG can be sent to advocacy@sexualminoritiesuganda.org.
 CPT has maintained contact with
SMUG since the team’s earlier visit. 



 A Human Rights Watch release about the murder notes,
“Kato was the advocacy officer for the organization Sexual Minorities
Uganda. He had been a leading voice in the fight against the Anti-Homosexuality
Bill
,
which has been before Uganda’s parliament since October 15, 2009.  While homosexual sex is already illegal
in Uganda, the proposed law would criminalize all homosexuality, making it
punishable by a fine and life imprisonment.  ‘Repeat offenders’ and those who are HIV positive would be
subject to the death penalty. The bill would also oblige anyone with knowledge
of someone who is or might be a homosexual to report that person to the police
within twenty-four hours.”

 The police deny his murder has any relation to his sexual
orientation or activism.

 Please take the time to write to the authorities below
(particularly the Inspector General of Police) urging a full and impartial
investigation into his death and demanding that his queer friends and
colleagues be given the protection they deserve as many of them continue to
receive death threats. In your letter, feel free to also address your concerns
regarding the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. 

General of Police 
Major General Kale Kayihura

Uganda Police Force, 
 Nsambya Police Headquarters

PO BOX 7055, 
Kampala, 
Uganda

Fax: + 256 414 342 985 
Salutation: Dear Major General


 Minister of Internal Affairs Hon. Ali Kirunda Kivejinja

Ministry of Internal Affairs 
PO Box 7191, 
Kampala, 
Uganda
Fax: + 256 414 343 088
 Salutation: Dear Minister
 
Ambassade de la République de l’Ouganda; 

Rue Antoine Carteret 6bis; 
1202 Genève.

Fax: 022 340 70 30
E-mail: mission.uganda@ties.itu.ch


Also, in Canada:
Uganda High Commission in Canada
231 Cobourg Street

Ottawa, Ontario
 K1N 8J2
CANADA

Tel: 613.789.7797
Fax: 613.789.8909
 Email: uhc@ugandahighcommission.com

and in the USA


 His Excellency Professor
Perezi K. Kamunanwire

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

pkamunanwire@ugandaembassyus.org

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