“I was horrified by the news of David Kato’s brutal murder. David Kato campaigned for the human rights of sexual minorities in a highly homophobic society.
Notwithstanding public vilification and discrimination, and in the face of a hate campaign, he lobbied strongly against the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which sought to impose the death penalty for certain homosexual acts. Mr Kato and other gay activists had been publicly threatened by a Ugandan newspaper that published their pictures under a headline reading ”Hang them!“ He successfully sued the newspaper in court. I pay tribute to his courageous personal commitment to human rights.
The Ugandan Government must provide protection and security for human rights activists. I call on President Museveni to take a clear public stance condemning the incitement of hatred against sexual minorities.
In this context I expressly also call on the churches and religious groups to take an active stance to counter such cheap propaganda against minorities.”