David Kato, Advocacy and Litigation Officer of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), was beaten to death on 26 January 2011. He received death threats after the tabloid Rolling Stone in Uganda published in October 2010 the lists of presumed homosexual Ugandans, along with their names and addresses and a yellow banner on the side reading “Hang them.” David Kato was named and pictured on the front page.
David Cato was one of the three LGBT activists who sued the publication and obtained on 4 January 2011 a condemnation and a strong High Court judgement on the universal right to life and dignity. The High Court awarded each of the three 1.5 million Ugandan shillings (649 USD), and issued an injunction prohibiting the publication of the identities and addresses of homosexuals. However, the ruling also made a point of stressing that the decision reached made no pronouncement whatsoever on the legality of homosexuality, which remains a crime under Ugandan law.
HRHN calls for investigation of the murder of Kato
More than 40 members and partners of the Human Rights House Network (HRHN) issued a letter of concern today calling for an immediate investigation into the murder of David Kato and for effective protection of all human rights defenders in the Republic of Uganda.
More information on HRHN’s letter of concern
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