By San Diego Gay and Lesbian News
MUKONO, Uganda – The funeral for gay rights activist David Kato, who was murdered Wednesday, turned ugly today when a local minister began condemning homosexuality during the service.
Friends who were mourning Kato’s death reacted in horror, according to media reports.
Reuters reported this:
"The world has gone crazy," the pastor told the congregation through a microphone.
"People are turning away from the Scriptures. They should turn back, they should abandon what they are doing. You cannot start admiring a fellow man."
Gay activists, wearing T-shirts featuring Kato's face with sleeves colored with the gay pride flag, then stormed the pulpit and grabbed the microphone.
"It is ungodly," the pastor shouted, before being blocked from sight.
"ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE US"
An unidentified female activist then began to shout from the pulpit.
"Who are you to judge others?" she shouted. "We have not come to fight. You are not the judge of us. As long as he's gone to God his creator, who are we to judge Kato?"
Locals intervened on the side of the pastor and scuffles broke out before he was taken away to Kato's father's house to calm the situation.
Villagers then refused to bury the body at which point a group of Kato's friends, most of whom were gay, carried his coffin to the grave and buried it themselves.
About 100 friends attended Kato’s funeral, part of a crowd of 300 that had gathered in the village to attend the service.
Kato was one of the top leaders of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), which fought for LGBT rights in this east African nation.
He had been living in fear since Uganda’s scandalous Rolling Stone tabloid printed his photo on the front cover of the edition that was headlined “100 Pictures of Uganda’s Top Homos” and with a sub-headline that said “Hang Them.”
Pictured next to Kato on that cover was well-known human-rights activist Bishop Christopher Senyonjo, often called Uganda’s Bishop Tutu.
Kato’s murder has brought universal condemnation, including from President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Meanwhile, Ugandan police say they have arrested one man in connection with Kato’s slaying and are looking for a second man. Police are dismissing allegations that Kato was killed because he was gay, telling reporters that they believe robbery was the motive.
Human rights activists and world leaders are urging Uganda to investigate the case thoroughly.
Godfrey Odongo of Amnesty International told Voice of America (VOA):
“Amnesty International is appalled and shocked by the death of this leading, prominent human rights activist who has worked on issues of lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender rights for a long time,” Odongo said. “We, along with other organizations, call upon the Ugandan government to ensure an impartial and credible investigation into the murder.”
Reporters Without Borders also asked Ugandan police not to rule out homophobia or any other motive, according to VOA.