Fridae

The UK's Guardian reports on Feb 17:

Murdered gay rights activist David Kato was mocked at a UN-backed debate on Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill, according to a US diplomat in Kampala in a leaked American embassy cable.

Gay activist David Kato, whose name and photograph was published in a tabloid story that promised to out 100 homosexuals next to a headline reading 'hang them', was bludgeoned to death in his home on Jan 26.

The diplomat said Kato, who was bludgeoned to death near his home in the capital, Kampala, last month, delivered a well-written speech against the bill, but his words were almost inaudible due to "his evident nervousness". Throughout his talk a member of the Ugandan Human Rights Commission "openly joked and snickered" with supporters of the bill, the diplomat claimed in the cable.

The "consultative meeting" in December 2009, organised with funding from the UN, aimed to discuss the bill, which would impose the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality" and life imprisonment for consenting adults who have gay sex.

In the cable, dated 24 December 2009, the diplomat claimed Ugandan politicians, including the author of the anti-homosexuality bill, David Bahati, had channelled anger at the country's socio-political failings into "violent hatred" of gay people.

Other confidential memos sent between Kampala and Washington in 2009-2010 and sent to WikiLeaks paint a picture of a worsening human rights climate in the runup to Ugandan elections on Friday . They chart Uganda's "chilling" descent from tolerance to violent homophobia and a deepening fear among gay activists, who claim they are being increasingly monitored and harassed.

The memos, classified as confidential, also reveal US diplomatic attempts to combat the draconian bill – which is at the parliamentary committee stage. 

Under the heading Comment: Homophobic Demagogues, the diplomat reports in the Christmas Eve cable that Bahati, a born-again Christian MP from the ruling party, had become "further isolated" following "recent condemnations" by high-profile Pastor Rick Warren and other US-based individuals who are against the bill. However, it was clear he would not yield to international pressure. 

Referring to Bahati, the diplomat said: "His homophobia … is blinding and incurable." 

Read full article in the Guardian.

Suspect arrested

Earlier this month, Ugandan police dismissed claims that David Kato's murder on Jan 26 is related to his anti-homophobia campaigning.

The police was quoted in local and international media reports as saying that Kato was killed after reneging on an agreement to pay for sex. A 22-year-old suspect Enock Nsubuga has been arrested in connection to the case. He is said to have lived and worked as a domestic labourer in Kato's home after being released from prison. Police initially claimed the motive was theft – a hasty conclusion that left many of Kato's friends and colleagues suspicious of a cover-up as Kato had received numerous death threats because of his work.