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.
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