27 Jan 2011

Uganda gay rights activist Kato killed

A Ugandan gay rights campaigner who last year sued a local newspaper which named him as being homosexual has been killed, activists say. Police have confirmed the death of David Kato but say they are investigating the circumstances.

david-kato

Uganda's Rolling Stone newspaper published the photographs of several people it said were gay next to a headline reading "Hang them". Homosexual acts are illegal in Uganda, with punishments of 14 years in prison. An MP recently tried to increase the penalties to include the death sentence in some cases.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) quotes witnesses as saying that a man entered Mr Kato's home near Kampala and shot him twice in the head before leaving. Mr Kato died on his way to hospital, they say.

BBC News