Kisule David Kato, a leading activist for LGBT rights in Uganda, was brutally murdered yesterday afternoon, in circumstances still unclear, in his home in Kampala. On October 16 the Ugandan magazine Rolling Stones had published his picture on the front page, together with that of 99 other Ugandan gay activists seeking the arrest. I met David last February, Fifth Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders in Dublin organized by Front Line, in cooperation with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. 100 activists were considered at risk of life in the world: me and David were other amazing people that today there are more, including Bety Cariño, who was murdered in Mexico April 27, 2010, and Georges Kanuma, leader of the LGBT community in Burundi with whom I had an extraordinary friendship that I will remain close Always in my heart, always gone for medical negligence in April.
David's eyes was visible pain: a heart rooted in sorrow for his people, for those who were living on their skin each day the abuse of discrimination, fear and isolation. A pain that was corroborated by the desire for justice, freedom, equality of all human beings.
His eyes sparkled with melancholy, but did not conceal the strength of an extraordinary man, ready to give his life to protect the most vulnerable, ready to deprive himself of something to help those most in need, ready to face even the most formidable opponents in order to defend their views and so one of the other.
remember one thing that David Kato Georges Kanuma which I repeated in Dublin, when it came time to say goodbye and to return to separate us in our respective countries: "It 's hard, but our people need us. We must not disappoint them nor forsake them: only by staying close to them, only by continuing our daily struggle for their rights, we live by our mission. " And they were right.
will bring the teachings of David and Georges in the heart, trying to better follow their teachings as the inspiration to tackle the more noble life. Thank you, dear David, thank you for being with us. We'll miss you.
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