Petrelis Files

Ugandan Gay Murder Suspect's
Next Court Date Set

(Enock Nsubuga, the alleged killer of David Kato. Credit: Daily Monitor.)

More than a month has elapsed since the brutal murder of David Kato happened in Kampala and my friend Andy Humm on the phone yesterday demanded to know the latest news on the case. We had been discussing proper community follow-up to a gay global issues, especially this slaying that was of high interest in recent weeks but seems to have fallen off the radar.

Lacking any details on the suspect in custody for killing the prominent gay leader, I quickly found info. This excerpt is from the Daily Monitor of March 3:

The Mukono Grade Two Magistrate Charles Kadisi has remanded Enock Nsubuga Balibagga, who is accused of murdering David Kato, to Luzira prison. David Kato was a prominent Ugandan gay rights activist.

Enock Nsubuga Balibagga, 22 years, who is being prosecuted by David Toskin, has been remanded on charges of murdering David Kato on 26th January, 2011 at the deceased’s house at Bukasa village, Kyetume in Mukono district.

Nsubuga was netted on Wednesday 02 February by Mukono police following a tip off by his uncle about his whereabouts. He had been hiding at Nakabago. Nsubuga has been remanded to Luzira prison until 17th of March 2011 when the case will again come up for mention. ...

I don't get the sense at all that a trial will start on March 17, but that is what Pink Paper over in the UK reported last week. They've either removed their story from their site or it disappeared from a glitch, but I found a cached version, which quotes Frank Mugisha of SMUG:

If a trial is about to start in Kampala, I would expect advocacy groups such as the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Watch, and Sexual Minorities of Uganda to get the word out about the pending trial. However, I've seen nothing from them and will contact them for any additional info. If the groups confirm what the Pink Paper alleges, I'll write an update.

Let's all pitch in in our individual best ways possible to keep the quest for justice for David Kato alive and current on our sites and blogs. Got more info on his murder and investigation? Share it, please.

(The late, great Ugandan gay leader David Kato.)