Diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks show the extent of Ugandan homophobia.
American embassy cables describe a 2009 UN-sponsored meeting which gay rights campaigner David Kato spoke at, the Guardian reports.
Mr Kato, who was murdered this month, was openly mocked as he nervously read a speech against a bill to strengthen Uganda�s laws against homosexuality.
The US diplomat wrote that the homophobia of bill sponsor David Bahati MP was �is blinding and incurable�.
The cables also refer to anti-gay pastor Martin Ssempa and Ugandan ethics minister James Nsaba Buturo.
One said: �Bahati, Buturo, and particularly Ssempa�s ability to channel popular anger over Uganda�s socio-political failings into violent hatred of a previously unpopular but tolerated minority is chilling.�
The memos also showed diplomatic attempts to combat the controversial bill.
The status of the bill is currently unclear but anti-gay feeling runs high in the country.
Gay rights campaigners in Uganda are calling for a full investigation into Mr Kato�s death.
One man has been arrested and police say Mr Kato�s activist was not relevant.
The activist had received death threats after successfully suing a newspaper for publishing his name, address and photo in an anti-gay campaign.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar