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African Bloggers Statement on David Kato and Uganda "We the undersigned wish to express our deep sadness at the murder of Ugandanhuman rights defender David Kato on 26th February 2011.  David's activism  beganin the 1980s as an Anti-Apartheid campaigner where he first expressed a strongpassion and conviction for freedom and justice which continued throughout his life.David was a founding member of Sexual Minorities Uganda where he first served asBoard member and until his death as Litigation and Advocacy Officer and he wasalso 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 wouldimpact on the rights of ordinary citizens including lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,Transgendered / Gender Non-Comforming and Intersex  [LGBTIQ] persons.   Yearslater his concerns were justified when the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill backedby religious fundamentalists was outlined in 2009.  David was also an extremelybrave man who had been imprisoned and beaten severely because of his sexualorientation 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 andBotswana, have publicly maligned LGBTIQ people and in some cases directly incitedviolence against them whilst labeling sexual minorities as “unAfrican”.In October 2010, the Ugandan tabloid, Rolling Stone published the names andphotographs 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 threatenand endanger the lives of LGBTIQ persons.The court did not only rule that the publication would threaten and endanger the livesof LGBTIQ persons but it issued a permanent injunction against RollingStone newspaper never to publish photos of gays in Uganda, and also never to againpublish their home addresses.Justice Kibuuka Musoke ruled that,"Gays are also entitled to their rights. This court has found that there wasinfringement of some people’s confidential rights. The court hereby issues aninjunction restraining Rolling Stone newspaper from future publishing of identifications of homosexuals."Every human being is protected under the African Charter of Peoples and HumanRights 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 anddignity, as other citizens on the continent." Alix Mukonambi,    Molisa NyakaleAnengiyefa Alagoa,   Things I Feel Strongly AboutAnthony Hebblethwaite   African ActivistBarbra Jolie,     Me I Think Ben Amunwa,    Remember Ken Saro-WiwaBunmi Oloruntoba,    A Bombastic ElementChris Ogunlowo,     AloofaaEccentric Yoruba,    Eccentric YorubaExiled Soul     ExiledSoulFrancisca Bagulho and Marta Lança,  BualaFunmilayo Akinosi,Finding My PathFunmi Feyide,    Nigerian CuriosityGay Uganda ,    Gay UgandaGlenna Gordon,Scarlett LionGodwyns Onwuchekwa,    My PersonJeremy Weate,     Naija BlogKayode Ogundamisi   Canary BirdKadija Patel     Thoughtleader Keguro Macharia,    GukiraKenne Mwikya,    Kenne’s BlogKinsi Abdullah    Kudu ArtsLaura Seay,Texas in AfricaLlanor Alleyne    Llanor AlleyneMark Jordahl,      Wild Thoughts from UgandaMatt Temple     Matsuli MusicMia Nikasimo,    MiaScript Minna Salami,MsAfropolitanMshairi,     MshairiNdesanjo Macha    Global VoicesNyokabi Musila,    Sci-Cultura.Nzesylva,     Nzesylva’s BlogOlumide Abimbola,   LoomnieOry Okolloh,     Kenyan PunditPamela Braide,    pdbraidePeter Alegi,      Football is Coming HomeRethabile Masilo,     PoefrikaSaratu Abiola,     Method to MadnessSean Jacobs,     Africa is a CountrySokari Ekine,    Black Looks
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