African Bloggers Statement on David Kato and Uganda

"We the undersigned wish to express our deep sadness at the murder of Ugandan human rights defender David Kato on 26 January 2011. David's activism began in the 1980s as an Anti-Apartheid campaigner where he first expressed a strong passion and conviction for freedom and justice which continued throughout hid life. David was a founding member of Sexual Minorities Uganda where he first served as Board member and until his death as Litigation and Advocacy Officer and he was also a member of Integrity Uganda, a faith-based advocacy organization.

David was a man of vision and courage. One of his major concerns was the growth of religious fundamentalism in Uganda and across the continent and how this would impact on the rights of ordinary citizens including lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered / Gender Non-Comforming and Intersex [LGBTIQ] persons. Years later his concerns were justified when the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill backed by religious fundamentalists was outlined in 2009. David was also an extremely brave man who had been imprisoned and beaten severely because of his sexual orientation and for speaking publicly against the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

Many African political and religious leaders in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Zambia, Gambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Malawi and Botswana, have publicly maligned LGBTIQ people and in some cases directly incited violence against them whilst labeling sexual minorities as “unAfrican”.

In October 2010, the Ugandan tabloid, Rolling Stone published the names and photographs of "100 Top homos" including David Kato. David along with two other LGBTIQ activists successfully sued the magazine on the grounds of "invasion of privacy" and most importantly, the judge ruled that the publication would threaten and endanger the lives of LGBTIQ persons.

The court did not only rule that the publication would threaten and endanger the lives of LGBTIQ persons but it issued a permanent injunction against Rolling Stone newspaper never to publish photos of gays in Uganda, and also never to again publish their home addresses.

Justice Kibuuka Musoke ruled that,

"Gays are also entitled to their rights. This court has found that there was infringement of some people’s confidential rights. The court hereby issues an injunction restraining Rolling Stone newspaper from future publishing of identifications of homosexuals."

Every human being is protected under the African Charter of Peoples and Human Rights and this includes the rights of LGBTIQ persons. We ask the governments of Uganda and other African countries to stop criminalizing people on the grounds of sexual orientation and afford LGBTIQ people the same protections, freedoms and dignity, as other citizens on the continent."

Molisa Nyakale, Molisa Nyakale
Anengiyefa Alagoa, Things I Feel Strongly About
Anthony Hebblethwaite African Activist
Barbra Jolie, Me I Think
Ben Amunwa, Remember Ken Saro-Wiwa
Bunmi Oloruntoba, A Bombastic Element
Chris Ogunlowo, Aloofaa
Eccentric Yoruba, Eccentric Yoruba
Exiled Soul ExiledSoul
Francisca Bagulho and Marta Lança, Buala
Funmilayo Akinosi, Finding My Path
Funmi Feyide, Nigerian Curiosity
Gay Uganda Gay Uganda
Glenna Gordon, Scarlett Lion
Godwyns Onwuchekwa, My Person
Jeremy Weate, Naija Blog
Kayode Ogundamisi Canary Bird
Kadija Patel Thoughtleader
Keguro Macharia, Gukira
Kenne Mwikya, Kenne’s Blog
Kinsi Abdullah Kudu Arts
Laura Seay, Texas in Africa
Llanor Alleyne Llanor Alleyne
Mark Jordahl, Wild Thoughts from Uganda
Matt Temple Matsuli Music
Mia Nikasimo, MiaScript
Minna Salami, MsAfropolitan
Mshairi, Mshairi
Ndesanjo Macha Global Voices
Nyokabi Musila, Sci-Cultura.
Nzesylva, Nzesylva’s Blog
Olumide Abimbola, Loomnie
Ory Okolloh, Kenyan Pundit
Pamela Braide, pdbraide
Peter Alegi, Football is Coming Home
Rethabile Masilo, Poefrika
Saratu Abiola, Method to Madness
Sean Jacobs, Africa is a Country
Sokari Ekine, Black Looks
Sonja Uwimana, Africa is a Country
Spectra Speaks, Spectra Speaks
TMS Ruge, Project Diaspora
Toyin Ajao StandTall
Tosin Otitoju, Lifelib
Val Kalende, Val Kalende
Zackie Achmat, Writing Rights
Zion Moyo, Sky, Soil and Everything in Between

On this Valentines day..

As we celebrate our loves this day, let us spare a thought for the thousands of gay people who live in countries and places where their love is punishable by death. Homosexual acts remain punishable by death in Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, some parts of Nigeria and Somalia.

In Bangladesh, Guyana, Maldives, Myanmar/Burma, Pakistan, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Barbados (not enforced for acts in private and currently under review), punishment can be anything up to imprisonment for life.

Happy Valentines day..

PostScript: It is interesting that on this day BBC3 broadcast the programme titled The World's Worst Place To Be Gay filmed in Uganda. Please click on the link and watch it on the BBC website where it will be available for a few days.

The video is also available on YouTube. It is in four parts.

Writers and Academics Against Homophobia

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and others have condemned the murder of Ugandan gay activist, David Kato. On Monday a group referring to itself as Writers and Academics Against Homophobia issued a press release. Feel free to share this petition through your social networks.

PM News reports it thus:

Nobel Laureate, Proessor Wole Soyinka, authors and academics have condemned the murder of Ugandan gay activist, David Kato.

They called on the Ugandan government to find and prosecute those involved in the murder of David Kato who was a well known gay campaigner in Uganda.

According to the group which includes BCC award winners and best selling authors, misgiving about homosexuality should not be a matter for the government to delve into. They therefore urged African governments to expunge all anti-homosexuality provisions in their constitutions. The group said that scientific research has cleared the fog of ignorance that some religions foisted on the people concerning homosexuality.

Similarly the group called on all African governments to emulate South Africa which has expunged her laws that criminalise homosexuals or treat them as unworthy of the same rights as other citizens.

The document was signed by at least 60 signatories including Damola Awoyokun, Wale Adebanwi, Diran Adebayo, Joe Agbro and Anengiyefa Alagoa.

The Petition

We the undersigned condemn in the strongest possible terms the murder of Mr David Kato the Ugandan gay rights campaigner. We wish to state emphatically that homosexuality is neither a sin nor a social or cultural construct. It is a biological given. Homosexuals are human beings like everybody else. Scientific research has been helpful in clearing the fog of ignorance entrenched by some religious texts in regards to homosexuality. Our opinions of homosexuality must change for the better just as our opinion of slavery has changed even though it was endorsed by those same religious texts. All violence against gays and people deemed to be gay in Africa must cease forthwith.

We call on the government of Uganda to find and prosecute all those involved in the murder of Mr Kato, including the newspaper that called for the hanging of gays. We also call on African governments to learn from the South African example by expunging from their laws all provisions that criminalize homosexuality or treat homosexuals as unworthy of the same rights and entitlements as other citizens. African states must protect the rights of their citizens to freedom and dignity. Homosexuals must not be denied these rights.

Undersigned:

1. Wale Adebanwi, PhD, University of California, US

2. Diran Adebayo, Writer, UK

3. Jide Adebayo-Begun, Writer, Nigeria

4. Kayode Adeduntan, PhD, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

5. Biola Adegboyega, University of Calgary, Canada

6. Shola Adenekan, Editor, The New Black Magazine, UK

7. Pius Adesanmi, PhD, Carleton University, Canada

8. Akin Adesokan, PhD, Indiana University, US

9. Chimamanda Adichie, Writer, Nigeria

10. Faith Adiele, Writer, US

11. Joe Agbro, Journalist, Nigeria

12. Anthony Akinola, PhD, Oxford, UK

13. Anengiyefa Alagoa, Writer, UK

14. Ellah Allfrey, Deputy Editor, Granta Magazine, UK

15. Alnoor Amlani, Writer, Kenya

16. Ike Anya, Public health doctor and writer, UK

17. Bode Asiyanbi, Writer, Lancaster University, UK

18. Sefi Atta, Writer, US

19. Lizzy Attree, PhD, University of East London, UK

20. Damola Awoyokun, Writer, UK

21. Doreen Baingana, Writer, Uganda

22. Igoni Barrett, Writer, Nigeria

23. Tom Burke, Bard College, US

24. Brian Chikwava, Writer, UK

25. Jude Dibia, Writer, Nigeria

26. Chris Dunton, PhD, National University of Lesotho, Lesotho

27. Ropo Ewenla, Artist, Nigeria

28. Chielozona Eze, PhD, Northeastern Illinois University, US

29. Aminatta Forna, Writer, UK

30. Ivor Hartmann, Writer, South Africa

31. Chris Ihidero, Writer, Lagos State University, Nigeria

32. Ikhide R. Ikheloa, Writer, US

33. Sean Jacobs, PhD, New School, US

34. Biodun Jeyifo, PhD, Harvard University, US

35. Brian Jones, Professor Emeritus, Zimbabwe

36. Martin Kiman, Writer, US

37. Lauri Kubuitsile, Writer, Botswana

38. Zakes Mda, PhD, Ohio University, US

39. Colin Meier, Writer, South Africa

40. Gayatri Menon, PhD, Franklin and Marshall College, US

41. Valentina A. Mmaka, Writer, Italy/South Africa

42. Jane Morris, Publisher, Zimbabwe

43. Joseph Sndanni Mwella, Advocate of High Court, Kenya

44. Mbonisi P. Ncube, Writer, South Africa

45. Iheoma Nwachukwu, Writer, Nigeria

46. Onyeka Nwelue, Writer and filmmaker, India/Nigeria

47. Fred Nwonwu, Writer and Journalist, Nigeria

48. Nnedi Okorafor, PhD, Writer, Chicago State University, US

49. Ebenezer Obadare, PhD, University of Kansas, US

50. Juliane Okot Bitek, Writer, Canada

51. Tejumola Olaniyan, PhD, University of Wisconsin, US

52. Ngozichi Omekara, Trinidad and Tobago

53. Akin Omotosho, Actor and filmmaker, South Africa

54. Kole Omotosho, PhD, Africa Diaspora Research Group, South Africa

55. Samuel Sabo, Writer, UK

56. Ramzi Salti, PhD, Stanford University, US

57. Namwali Serpell, PhD, Writer, Harvard University, US

58. Brett L. Shadle, PhD, Virginia Tech, US

59. Drew Shaw, PhD, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe

60. Lola Shoneyin, Writer, Nigeria

61. Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate for Literature

62. Olufemi Taiwo, PhD, Seattle University, US

63. Kola Tubosun, Writer, Fulbright Scholar, US

64. Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, Writer, Nigeria

65. Abdourahman A.Waberi, Writer, US /Djibouti

66. Binyavanga Wainaina, Writer, Kenya

67. Ronald Elly Wanda, Writer & Lecturer, Marcus Garvey Pan-Afrikan Institute, Uganda

68. Kristy Warren, PhD, University of Warwick, UK

69. Cornel West, PhD, Princeton University, US

Note: Since time of posting some additional signatories have been included. The author of this blog is at number 13 on the list of signatories.