David Kato speaking at the 2010 Front Line Defenders Dublin Platform

As the Berlin International Film Festival this weekend premieres “Call Me Kuchu” – the story of murdered gay rights defender David Kato - the inflammatory Anti-Homosexuality Bill is once again before the Ugandan Parliament.

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Saturday 11 February the Berlin International Film Festival will present the world première of “Call Me Kuchu” – a film based on the story of murdered human rights defender and gay rights activist David Kato. The premiere will be followed by a Q&A with the film's directors Malika Zouhali-Worrall and Katherine Fairfax Wright .

On Sunday 12 February there will be a second showing which will be followed by a Q&A with the film's directors and Vincent Forest, Head of the EU office of Front Line Defenders. Malika Zouhali-Worrall, Katherine Fairfax Wright and Vincent Forest are all available for interview. The discussion will address the implications of the proposed legislation and discuss the current situation for the LGBTI community in Uganda.

On Wednesday 26 January 2011 David Kato, one of Uganda's most prominent gay rights activists was bludgeoned to death in his home weeks after winning a court case against a tabloid that called for homosexuals to be killed.

David Kato, the advocacy officer for Sexual Minorities Uganda and other Ugandan gay activists had consistently reported harassment which increased significantly after a high court judge granted a permanent injunction against the Ugandan Rolling Stone (no connection to US rolling Stone) tabloid newspaper, preventing it from identifying homosexuals in its pages. David Kato had been pictured on the front page of an issue carrying the headline “Hang Them” He was one of the three complainants in the court case.

4 months before his death David Kato had been a participant in the Front Line Defenders Dublin Platform and the organisation had provided practical support for him and other members of SMUG (Sexual Minorities Uganda) in the form of a grant for security and protection.

Despite the fact that David Kato's killer has recently been sentenced to 30 years in prison, the climate of extreme homophobia is being exacerbated by the re-introduction of the Anti-homosexuality Bill

Former Minister of Ethics and Integrity, James Nsaba Buturo (defeated at the last election) who describes himself as a devout Christian said at the time, “Homosexuals can forget about human rights.”

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill will go through a first, then second reading, before it is debated. However, prior debate reports on the bill, which was introduced in 2009 amid global outcry, may be used to accelerate this process. If the bill is passed by Parliament, the president cannot veto it. A range of punishments are mandated by the bill with according to some sources the possibility of a death sentence for “aggravated offenders.”

View Extract from “Call Me Kuchu”

See Front Line Defenders Appeal re Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda

For further information or to interview Malika Zouhali-Worrall, Katherine Fairfax-Wright or Vincent Forest please contact:

Tel +353 1 212 3750 – Mobile +353 (0)85 236 0262