Madam, – Upon hearing of the abhorrent murder of the Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato, I feel compelled not only to condemn this malicious, odious crime, but also the virulent legislative Bill proposed by the Ugandan government in 2009 proposing the death penalty for “repeat offenders” of homosexuality which has led to such a malevolent persecution of homosexuals.
I met David Kato as a volunteer at the Fifth Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders in Dublin Castle in February 2010 and subsequently kept in regular contact with him over the past year, throughout which he encouraged and inspired me to continue in human rights related work. It is with great sadness that I reflect on his passion for human rights. He was vehemently and relentlessly determined to stand up for what he believed in, regardless of the risks that his pursuit of justice might entail.
Although the Bill was subsequently shelved, it is obvious from this heinous crime that its proposal was sufficient to breed a culture of enmity and cause any individual who supported the rights of homosexuals to become anathema to Ugandan society. It is feared the Bill may be introduced, should President Yoweri Museveni be re-elected next month.
The government of Uganda should be ashamed that its execrable policies have led to loss of life for one’s sexual orientation.
No human being deserves to be martyred on the basis of personal preference, moral or immoral. The proposed Bill and the media campaign that followed amount to nothing short of a pogrom.
The international community has lost an immense paladin of human rights, a defiant and courageous advocate and most importantly, a munificent human being and friend. – Yours, etc,