Ugandan gay activist David Kato's funeral marred by angry scenes
Presiding pastor called on homosexuals to repent or be 'punished by God' at the murdered activist's service
Xan Rice in Nairobi
Friday 28 January 2011 18.16 GMT
Angry scenes marred the funeral of murdered Ugandan gay activist David Kato today when the presiding pastor called on homosexuals to repent or "be punished by God".
Towards the end of an emotional ceremony to mourn Kato, who was bludgeoned to death on Wednesday, Anglican pastor Thomas Musoke launched into a homophobic tirade, shocking the dozens of gay men and women as well as foreign diplomats in attendance.
"The world has gone crazy," Musoke said. "People are turning away from the scriptures. They should turn back, they should abandon what they are doing. You cannot start admiring a fellow man."
Witnesses said that Kato's former colleagues at Sexual Minorities Uganda, where he worked as an advocacy officer, quickly shouted Musoke down.
"We have not come to fight," one woman screamed. "You are not the judge of us. As long as he's gone to God his creator, who are we to judge Kato?"
The microphone was away grabbed from Musoke, and a scuffle ensued. Police were forced to intervene, escorting the pastor away from the funeral.
The incident highlighted the deep, religiously-stoked homophobia that exists in Uganda, and which Kato's friends believe may have caused his death. He was one of few openly homosexual men in the country, and was a regarded as the "grandfather" of the gay community due to his long struggle for equal rights. His death came just three weeks after he won a court victory against a newspaper that had called for him to be hanged.
The murder attracted condemnation from around the world, but received more muted coverage in Uganda.
The funeral was held near Kato's ancestral home of Namataba, outside Kampala, and was attended by about 300 people, including family, friends, and members of the local community. A busload of gay activists arrived from the capital wearing T-shirts featuring Kato's face, or rainbows or the slogan "The struggle continues".
Three tents had been erected in a clearing, and Kato's body was displayed in open white coffin. A large crucifix lay on top. Kato's colleagues later covered it with a large rainbow flag.
A human rights activist who attended the ceremony said that Kato's mother and some of his closest friends struggled to contain their emotions as various speakers, including Kato's twin brother, paid tribute to his life and work.
A statement from US president Barack Obama praising Kato as a "powerful advocate for fairness and freedom" was read out. In her address, Sylvia Tamale, dean of the law school at Makerere University and a prominent critic of the harsh anti-homosexuality bill currently before parliament, called on the government to speak out against injustice in the country.
Following the pastor's departure, Kato's friends completed the burial, before quickly returning to Kampala due to threats from some local villagers.
While the investigation into the killing continues, the government continues to insist that it was a normal crime unconnected to his work or sexuality. In a statement, the Ugandan Media Centre said that "investigations point to aggravated robbery as the reason for murder". It said the main suspect, a man who allegedly lived with and worked for Kato, was still at large.
But Maria Burnett, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the government should not be publicising any conclusions so quickly. "The police need to do their job properly, and it not helpful to say this was simply a robbery before the investigation is completed."
David Kato funeral: Uganda priest berates gays
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12306077
28 January 2011 Last updated at 17:51 GMT
Ugandan police have escorted a priest away from the funeral of a gay rights activist after he told homosexuals to repent, sparking scuffles.
Anglican priest Thomas Musoke told mourners that homosexuality was "evil".
Hundreds of people had gathered for David Kato's burial in his home village near the capital, Kampala.
His colleagues say he was beaten to death at his home on Wednesday, although police deny he was killed because of his sexuality.
Last year, Mr Kato sued a local paper which outed him as homosexual.
Uganda's Rolling Stone newspaper published the photographs of several people it said were gay, including Mr Kato, with the headline "Hang them".
Homosexual acts are illegal in Uganda, and can be punished by 14-year prison sentences. An MP recently tried to increase the penalties to include the death sentence in some cases.
Mr Kato's Sexual Minorities Uganda (Smug) group said he had been receiving death threats since his name, photograph and address were published by the newspaper last year.
The BBC's Joshua Mmali at the funeral says it is unclear whether the death is linked to the campaign by Rolling Stone, whose editor has denied calling for the public to attack homosexuals.
'Luta continua'
David Kato was buried in his family ancestral village of Nakawala
Our reporter says hundreds of people - friends, family, colleagues and diplomats - crowded outside Mr Kato's family home in the village of Nakawala in Mukono district, 40km (about 25 miles) from Kampala.
Many members of the lesbian and gay community wore T-shirts with Mr Kato's portrait on the front and the words "La luta continua [the struggle continues]" printed on the back.
They were shocked when the priest started condemning homosexuals.
"You must repent. Even the animals know the difference between a male and a female," he said, before warning that they would face the fate of residents in Sodom and Gomorrah, the biblical cities destroyed by God.
Gay rights activists then stormed the pulpit and prevented the priest from continuing.
An excommunicated priest who has in the past called for people to respect the rights of homosexuals then presided over the rest of the service.
At the moment, we think theft is the most likely motive”
End Quote Judith Nabakooba Police spokeswoman
Police have made one arrest in connection to Mr Kato's murder in his home near Mukono town.
The main suspect - who the police say was living in Mr Kato's house - remains on the run.
"His homosexuality has not come up as an issue in the preliminary investigation," police spokeswoman Judith Nabakooba told Reuters news agency.
"At the moment, we think theft is the most likely motive," she said.
There has been a recent spate of "iron-bar killings" in Mukono in which people have been assaulted with pieces of metal.
Witnesses have told the BBC that a man entered Mr Kato's house and beat him to death before leaving.
Smug's executive director Frank Mugisha told the BBC Mr Kato had recently been concerned about the threats he had received.
"He was killed by someone who came in his house with a hammer, meaning anyone else could be the next target."
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged authorities to investigate and prosecute the killers.
The UN refugee agency head Antonio Guterres has said people facing persecution for their sexual orientation in Uganda should be given refugee status in other countries.
