30 Year Sentence for Killer of Ugandan Activist David Kato

The confessed killer of Ugandan LGBT activist David Kato has been sentenced to 30 years in prison, reports The Monitor.

Nsubuga admitted to have murdered David Kato 46, on 26th January 2011. This verdict was passed based on the evidence produced in courts. Prosecution led by Ms Loe Karungi alleges that on 26th January, 2011, while the duo was taking tea, the deceased demanded for sex from Nsubuga. ... Nsubuga picked up a hammer, came back to the living room and hit the deceased on the back of the head twice.

The hunt for Nsubuga culminated in his arrest when he was spotted by Nakabago residents in Mukono district, who alerted the police. He was arrested and taken to Mukono Police Station where he admitted to the murder charges brought against him. .. Efforts to reach leaders of gay community were futile as they are said to be out of the country to receive an award recognizing them for their struggle in the fight for gay rights in Uganda.

Kato was the spokesman for Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), the sole LGBT rights organization in Uganda. Kato was the most visible gay man in the small East African that has attracted international condemnation for its state-sponsored anti-gay terror campaign.

Fights erupted at Kano's funeral after a local pastor grabbed the microphone and blasted homosexuality. Kato's gay friends were forced to bury the body because villagers refused to do so.

As reported by The Monitor, leaders of Uganda's embattled LGBT community are in the U.S. to accept the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award in Washington today.

Ethel Kennedy, the widow of the former U.S. attorney general, is to be joined by Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry in presenting the award to Frank Mugisha at a ceremony on Capitol Hill. ... The 29-year-old Mugisha leads an underground group whose members routinely shift locations in Uganda for their safety. Uganda, a conservative East African nation, is one of more than 70 nations that have imposed laws against being gay.

Mugisha blames U.S. evangelical activists in particular for stoking fears and promoting homophobia with a 2009 visit and conference on "rehabilitation" for gays in Uganda. Since then, violence against gays has increased, he said.

This is the first time that an LGBT rights activist has been honored by the prestigious award.

R20's complete DAVID KATO coverage ...

Comments

[elg]

This is very good news. International pressure is having an impact on Uganda's savage homophobia.

[robert]

this is good news..

[Jerry]

Good news indeed. And I doubt if Kato could demand sex and even if he did that Nsubuga could not refuse and leave. Ever since the American evangelicals have infected African countries like Uganada with the same lies they use in the U.S. the homophobia has gotten much worse.And Ugandan pastors like Martin Ssempa have infected their people with their lies and distortions. For example Ssempa showed a gay porno film which showed scenes of scat and he implied that gay men eat "the poo poo" to use his words.It all originates with the homophobia brought to African countries like Uganada from the Colonials. One Ugandan protester said Colonials did not bring homosexuality. They brought homophobia. Disgusting.

[t]

I have mixed feelings about this. Sorry, but I trust the Ugandan government as far as I can sling a piano. Bravo; if the authorities truly did investigate David Kato's murder thoroughly and honestly before parading this "confessed murderer" in public, then good, Nsubuga gets what he deserves. I sincerely hope he is the killer and some scapegoat picked at random and forced to confess to a crime he did not commit to satisfy the international community because he is going to do some very hard time.