Ugandan gay activist's death not linked to advocacy for sexual minorities
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Ugandan police on Thursday said the murder of David Kato, a prominent gay rights activist in the East African country, is not linked to his advocacy for rights of sexual minorities.
Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, Inspector General of Police in a statement read by Vincent Ssekate deputy police spokesperson said that the Wednesday murder is purely a case of robbery.
"The circumstances surrounding this incident have no indications regarding his campaign for the Anti-Homosexuality bill before the Parliament of Uganda. It is therefore not true that his death is connected to his role as an activist in the sexual minorities in Uganda," he said.
"As police investigations are continuing, the public is asked to disregard any insinuations that have been attributed to this unfortunate incident," he added.
Ssekate said the police have so far arrested one suspect, Arnold Ssenoga, the deceased driver and that another suspect, the deceased house keeper is on the run.
Kato who had dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) persons was killed at his home in the central Ugandan district of Mukono.
Human rights activists like New York-based Human Rights Watch have called for an urgent and impartial investigation of Kato's murder.
The United States through its mission here on Thursday urged Ugandan authorities to actively investigate Kato's murder and bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice.
"The U.S. Mission in Uganda calls on Ugandan authorities to join with us and other members of the international community in speaking out against hate speech that contributes to discrimination, harassment, and intimidation of Uganda's LGBT community and other minorities," a statement from the U.S. mission said.
While homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda, there is a bill before parliament that seeks to make it punishable by a fine and life imprisonment. Repeat offenders and those who are HIV positive would be subject to the death penalty.
The bill has been widely condemned internationally, forcing the country's President Yoweri Museveni to request parliament to stay the bill that was tabled before it in October 2009.
