David Kato

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David Kato Kisule (born February 15, 1964 , † January 26, 2011 in Mukono ) was one of the most prominent gay activists in Uganda .

Life

Kato was a primary school teacher . Shortly before he moved to South Africa for several years, he came out before the family. He confided in particular to his older twin brother, John Mulumba Wasswa. (Wasswa is the name of the first-born and Kato of the second-born in the Baganda tradition.) The latter had already noticed that Kato was different and respected him. In Johannesburg he was involved in the movement there. With the end of apartheid , homosexuality and sexual orientation were no longer punishablewas included as a category in an anti-discrimination law, which was also included in the constitution in 1996. Nevertheless, homophobia is widespread and violence against homosexuals occurs again and again. In 1998 Kato returned to Uganda and after the experience in South Africa wanted to get involved in the rights of homosexuals. At that time he didn't know any like-minded people, but he knew that there had to be gays ( called kuchus in Uganda ). A little later he was taken into police custody for the first time for one week because of his activism.

As a result, he became a leading member of the lesbian and gay movement in East Africa and one of the most visible activists in Uganda. According to the New York Times , he is the founder of the Ugandan gay movement; he himself used to say of himself that he was the first openly gay Ugandan. A few years ago he organized the first conference in Kampala. He was spokesman for the human rights organization Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) and has been responsible for legal issues in the association since 2004. He also developed strategies for dealing with HIV and AIDS for a number of organizations .

He lived in Masaka , later in Nansana and most recently in Mukono , where he moved into a self-built house in 2010. Kato had multiple problems with his employers, especially due to his openness and visibility in the media. According to his friend Poline Kimani, he always took the initiative when he saw injustices and was very decisive, he always seemed to want to take the lead. If other gays felt threatened at home, they could find shelter with him. He also took care of those who were in police stations and tried to free them. According to homophobic prejudices , he has often been falsely accused of seducing children. Paul Kagaba, a grown man and model ex-gay of homophobic pastor Martin Ssempa , also accused Kato of having "recruited" him. Over time, he was arrested two more times. In 2009, some off-duty police officers broke his shoulder.

In October 2009, MP David Bahati , who has close ties to US evangelicals , introduced a bill into parliament that would have made the death penalty possible in addition to the existing prison sentences for same-sex intercourse , as well as those who repeat knew about it and did not report it. The law would have criminalized any human rights work in this area, since "advertising (= approval) for homosexuality" would have been punished with up to seven years in prison. National and international campaigns against this worldwide unique planned deterioration determined the following time. The hostility and attacks against homosexuals increased after the introduction of the proposed law. With support, it was possible to ensure that the law was not passed in January 2011, but should be discussed in the newly elected parliament after the election in February 2011. Kato left the teaching profession in 2010 to concentrate on his work at SMUG. In the same year he completed a course in human rights at the University of York . He was regularly harassed and his home was broken into several times.

On October 2, 2010, the Rolling Stone tabloid published the first photos and addresses of 100 “top homos” with the addition “Hang them”. The paper is in contact with the evangelical movement, but not with the well-known music magazine. Kato's picture appeared on page one with that of Anglican Bishop Christopher Senyonjo . On page two, the paper had the headline: "Hang them: They are after our kids" and wrote that homosexuals would recruit a million children. Human rights activist Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera was also one of the people out . The threats against Kato increased as a result. He was increasingly concerned about his safety, changing his sleeping place again and again, but not hiding like other outed people. Together with Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera and Pepe Onziema , he sued the newspaper. On December 30, 2010, the Supreme Court prohibited further outings and awarded the plaintiffs compensation.

assassination

He was seriously injured by two hammer blows to the head at around 2:00 pm on January 26, 2011 in his own home. He died on the way to the hospital. According to the Ugandan ambassador to the EU , his killer was a callboy who killed Kato after a dispute between the two over the payment of sexual services previously used by Kato.

Shortly before his death, his email account was hacked. Hours earlier, he discussed further security precautions, but said he had no money to seek refuge in the city.

At his funeral in Namataba, Mukono District , tumult broke out when an Anglican priest spoke up, calling homosexuals corrupt and suggesting a return to God. A message had previously been read from Barack Obama in which Kato was praised for his courage.

Reactions

The news of the murder was spread by online newspapers in Europe, America, Oceania, India and Taiwan. In addition to comments, obituaries and calls for information to the police by human rights groups and activists, the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek , US President Barack Obama , US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams spoke . In Germany, the Bavarian FDP politician Marina Schuster , the human rights commissioner of the Federal Government Markus Löning and Volker Beck spoke up . A memorial service with Peter Tatchell was held in front of the Ugandan embassy in London on January 28th . In Berlin, the ecumenical Rogate initiative organized a commemorative event in front of the Ugandan embassy on January 29th.

Noteworthy by Ugandan standards was the editorial in the leading independent daily Daily Monitor two days after Kato's death. It called for an "honest discussion" about homosexuality, which should be based on a different culture of discussion. It was noted that harsh punishments were deterrent but could not eradicate homosexuality. The punishment could also help cement discrimination against sexual minorities.

Giles Muhame, editor of Rolling Stone, condemned the crime to Reuters, saying he sympathized with the Katos family. "When we called for hanging of gay people, we meant ... after they have gone through the legal process. I did not call for them to be killed in cold blood like he was. "(German:" When we called on gay people to hang, we said ... after they were judged murder. ”) He also expressed his condolences to the family on the Daily Monitor . He also said that Kato was a victim of his own evil actions. "He brought death upon himself. He hasn't lived carefully. Kato was a shame to this country. "(German:" He brought death to himself. He did not live prudently. Kato was a shame for this country. ").

David Bahati, author of the homophobic bill, described Kato's death as unfortunate. He should open the eyes of Ugandans to the illegality of homosexuality. Bahati describes Kato as a wretched soul, "long and hard to see" the future of the children destroyed by illegal acts and the broken marriages. The death has nothing to do with Bahati's actions, but everything has to do with the donations to these people, which attract the attention of criminals. It is a common myth in Uganda that gays are provided with plenty of money from abroad. In the USA, evangelical circles from the environment of the Prayer Breakfast Movement (also The Family ) , of which both David Bahati and the Ugandan President Museveni are members, are associated with the culture of homophobia in Uganda.

Others

During the last year of his life, the documentary Call Me Kuchu was made about LGBT activists in Uganda, in which he plays a major role.

After his death, the David Kato Vision & Voice Award was launched as a memory of him , honoring LGBTI activists.

Criminals attempted advance fraud using his name in 2012 . His alleged attorney, Koffie Ayang, from Ghana tells of a property he left behind for which no heirs were given. One should help so that the inheritance does not go to the state.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Image in: Karen McVeigh and Damien Pearse: Ugandan lesbian wins temporary reprieve from deportation , guardian.co.uk, January 28, 2011
  2. ↑ a b c d e f Obituary: Uganda gay activist David Kato , bbc.co.uk, January 27, 2011
  3. ↑ Andrea Böhm: Obituary for a fearless person: on the murder of David Kato , zeit.de , January 27, 2011
  4. ↑ a b Jeffrey Gettleman: Ugandan Who Spoke Up for Gays Is Beaten to Death by Josh Kron, published in the New York Times on January 28, 2011 available online
  5. ↑ a b c d e Shock in the System: David Kato Kisule , gayuganda.blogspot.com, January 27, 2011
  6. ↑ a b c Jessica Geen: Tributes to 'brave' gay rights campaigner David Kato , pinknews.co.uk, January 27, 2011
  7. ↑ Jim Burroway, “Kato” Means the Younger of Twins , Box Turtle Bulletin, Jan. 27, 2011
  8. ↑ a b Jocelyn Edwards: An unfathomable future , New Internationalist Magazine, April 1, 2010
  9. ↑ Julie Bolcer, Andrew Harmon: Ugandan Gay Activist Murdered , The Advocate, Jan. 27, 2011
  10. ↑ A matter of life and death: The struggle for Ugandan gay rights ( Memento January 30, 2011 in the Internet Archive ), University of Cambridge, 2010
  11. ↑ a b Sokari Ekine: David Kato Rest In Peace my friend , Black Looks, January 27, 2011
  12. ↑ a b Godfrey Olukya, Jason Straziuso, AP: Gays in Uganda say they're living in fear , msnbc.com, October 19, 2010
  13. ↑ Jim Burroway, “Hang Them”: Another Wave of Anti-Gay Vigilantism Strikes Uganda , Box Turtle Bulletin, October 4, 2010
  14. ↑ a b Jim Burroway: Ugandan LGBT Advocate Murdered; Had Been Named By “Hang Them” Tabloid , Box Turle Bulletin, January 26, 2011
  15. ↑ a b Jim Burroway: Uganda's High Court Ruling Against “Hang Them” Tabloid Campaign , Box Turtle Bulletin, January 3, 2011
  16. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13278374
  17. ↑ Warren Throckmorton: SMUG: Ugandan GLBT activist David Kato has been murdered , wthrockmorton.com, January 26, 2011
  18. ↑ Press release: SMUG statement on the murder of David Kato , wthrockmorton.com, January 26, 2011
  19. ↑ Uganda: Promptly Investigate Killing of Prominent LGBT Activist , Human Rights Watch , January 27, 2011
  20. ↑ See the presentation of the facts by the Ugandan ambassador to the EU Stephen TK Katenta-Apuli in a letter from March 15, 2011 to the President of the European Parliament ( Memento of March 31, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
  21. ↑ Xan Rice: Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato found murdered , guardian.co.uk, January 27, 2011
  22. Jump up to the grave of Arne Perras on sueddeutsche.de, January 28, 2011
  23. ↑ Buzek calls for investigation into the death of Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato ( Memento from January 31, 2011 in the Internet Archive ), europarl.europa.eu, January 27, 2011
  24. ↑ Obama statement on murder of Uganda gay activist David Kato ( Memento from January 29, 2011 in the Internet Archive ), 365gay.com, January 28, 2011
  25. ↑ Hillary Clinton: Gay activist David Kato was “brutally murdered” ( January 29, 2011 memento in the Internet Archive ), 365gay.com, January 28, 2011
  26. ^ Archbishop condemns murder of Ugandan gay human rights activist ( Memento from January 31, 2011 in the Internet Archive ), archbishopofcanterbury.org, January 28, 2011
  27. ↑ a b Horror over the murder of David Kato , queer.de, January 28, 2011
  28. ↑ James Sanders: Crowds gather for UK vigil in honor of David Kato ( Memento from December 15, 2011 in the Internet Archive ), pinkpaper.com, January 28, 2011
  29. ↑ Editorial: Can we talk honestly about homosexuality? , Daily Monitor, Jan. 28, 2011
  30. ↑ ju: Uganda's Daily Monitor calls for an honest discussion about homosexuality ( memento of December 10, 2011 in the Internet Archive ), queernews.at, January 28, 2011
  31. ↑ Tom Walsh, David McKenzie: Ugandan gay rights activist bludgeoned to death , CNN, January 28, 2011; with video interview from October 2010
  32. ↑ Risdel Kasasira, Johnson Mayamba, Andrew Bagala: World condemns killing of gay activist , monitor.co.ug, January 27, 2011
  33. ↑ Uganda People News: Anti gay activist mourns dead gay rights advocate , ugpulse.com, January 28, 2011
  34. ^ Nancy Goldstein: No Prayers for David Kato. The Nation, Feb 4, 2011
  35. ^ "Call me Kuchu" in the cinema: Where Mordlust rages , sueddeutsche.de, September 20, 2012
  36. ↑ Where Being Gay Is a Life-and-Death Struggle , movies.nytimes.com, June 13, 2013
  37. ↑ Review: 'Call Me Kuchu' an unnerving look at Ugandan LGBT struggle , latimes.com, June 20, 2013
  38. ↑ Scam Mail: Message from: Dr. Barr. Koffie Ayang ( Memento from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ), scamcheat.blogspot.com, February 29, 2012
personal data
SURNAME Kato, David
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kisule, David Kato (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Ugandan gay activist
DATE OF BIRTH February 15, 1964
DATE OF DEATH January 26, 2011
Place of death Mukono