Indefatigable David Kato!

".....we should try as much as possible to promote awareness around HIV and then show the ease with which it is transmitted among LGBTIQQ. I thank you for bringing the public health angle to the activism we are doing. I am part of an organization called Integrity. It is a spiritual support group and our Pastor is Bishop Ssenyonjo Christopher. You should come to one of our fellowships one of these Sundays....." 

This was in 2004, and these were the words David Kato shared, animatedly, with me over a cup of coffee downtown Kampala. After watching what David Kato was doing since 2002, I noted we shared a philosophy. We shared the concern over the link between HIV transmission and the myth doing the rounds that no one caught any disease through anal sex! 

David Kato told me that he was a great friend of  the Justice of the Constitutional Court, Edwin Cameron who in 1997 announced that he had been living with HIV. David's work with Judge Cameron (SAHO, 1999) involved raising awareness on how HIV/AIDS spread and how to prevent it.  This was while he lived briefly in the Republic of South Africa. He also did some work there with the AIDS Consortium and AIDS Law Project. David Kato was brilliant, a problem-solver, incisive, decisive and one who would not hesitate to stand his ground if he had made up his mind. He struck me as a good listener, he asked pointed questions and was a mentor too. I had a problem with my mobile phone in 2004 and helped me learn how to lock it securely as well as use the different applications. The 30-45 minutes he spent taking me through the steps showed me another side of David Kato. David  made it possible for me to understand activism in Uganda. I am sure, there are many who will agree with me.

I had been in three earlier events where David Kato was a participant too. The first event was in 2002 (GLAD) at a meeting organized by Evangelical Scott Lively of USA to coordinate with anti-gay/Family Life Network's Stephen Langa and Martin Ssempa. All this talk about a gay-agenda and a counter gay-agenda was exciting to say the least. It almost pulled the rug from under me in some ways. I never looked at anyone as a gay person but as a human being. My concern for caring for people living with HIV must have made me look at the world differently. But I guess the organizers being Bible people and Pentecostals for that matter, anything framed in the bounds of Genesis 19-29 had to call for praying over, instituting legislation and penal codes. Anyway, at the meeting we were introduced to the Uganda anti-gay strategies. Spies and saboteurs of this great plan, which included among other things arcane therapies and healing by touching, were cautioned. That meeting galvanized many who were in that large auditorium.  As a medical person, I still did not see the need for legislation on sexuality, gender, orientation and identity.  I knew there can be biological and cultural gender. I know nurture and nature work hand in hand in this phenomena. All the while, David Kato was noting down points.

David Kato Photo courtesy of Economist

The second event was during an informal meeting to come up with an understanding of what and who was doing what for the LGBTIQQ community. It was a kind of inventorying. I was an outsider and therefore, could feel that not so much was being said by others. It was clear, I and some other allies were being tested. There were rumours of crackdown by authorities and they were not unfounded. Arrests were made of people who were suspected of homosexuality and homosexual activities.  I had some other duties to do elsewhere so, when I had finished talking about our organization I left. But, before I left I recall David Kato asking to meet during the weekend for coffee. I guessed it was his way of finding the middle ground. We never met for the coffee. 

The third occasion happened through another event. I had met Dr. Mugisha Frank back in April of 2005 (after Easter holidays). Dr. Frank asked to help him organize Icebreakers (IBU) to fulfill a vision he had shared with me. I accepted and began an intense work for three years up to when I left in 2008. By the time I left IBU, I had shared with them all my networks and helped beef up its fan base. I helped develop logic performance tools and co-designed the codes for running the organization. We went our separate ways and it enabled me concentrate more on my vision of  quality life and wellness for all irrespective of background, status and culture.

In doing my work around public health and that of Icebreakers we met with David Kato on a few occasions. It was around this time that I was called to SMUG offices for a meeting. In those early and formative years of  SMUG, I remembered being curious to meet the bold members as well as finding out what SMUG's vision was.  So, when I was invited, I felt so honoured. Dr. Frank Mugisha was supposed to introduce me to the SMUG board of that time (David Kato was a member as well).  We went up to the gates and Dr. Frank asked me to stay outside while he went to check. He told me it was a security precaution they had devised. So, he went to consult with the board members to see if I could be admitted. He came back and told me I was not welcome at SMUG (yet).  I remembered I had left my workplace that particular day, with an excuse of going home to nurse my grandmother. So, I stoically walked the lane of shame and left to go back to my home. I came to know that people who have grown up fighting for their self-identity, fending for crumbs of space and at the same time hiding their sexuality when it suits, have relied on cues to translate contexts. They can be suspicious of someone who comes from the blue to "help" them or join ranks untested or unsolicited. As a professional person, I used these lessons to my advantage.

At 7:00 pm that evening, I got a call from David Kato who apologized on behalf of SMUG. He told me I was still perceived as a government spy and the leaders failed to place me well. I asked what "they" meant by not placing me well. He decried my lack of socializing, not a smoker, nor a drink and not being a party-goer. I rebutted by saying I instead used my time differently. I shared with him my love for cultural theatre, movies and concerts.  I actually told him, public health work for LGBTIQQ requires community visits and we compete for a time slot when we are off our official government work, when people are at home or not at work for those who are occupied with something. I even told him that I volunteer at Sanyu or Nsambya Babies' Home. In other words, it was a matter of priorities really. My having to explain myself, demotivated me further and from that day, I knew activism was to be gauged by one's boots on the ground. Actually, up to this day I see different brands of activism. I am more inclined to health rights activism. I get fired into action when there is blood drawn, sickness, or a cry of pain. I have also worked in the world of red tape and paperwork that goes with documenting an aspect that needs an intervention. I have learnt how to prepare myself to be appropriate in communicating my needs and appreciation.  When I contemplated the differences in our work, I knew I had to build my own organization so that the next time I ever met anyone from SMUG it was to be at a different power-play level with a win-win outcome. Working with SMUG, has its advantages and one of them is relating with movers and shakers in the LGBTIQQ Community.

David Kato and Dr. Paul Semugoma, among others, helped me to build the kind of organization I had in mind. With time, it was possible to work with SMUG and other organizations that are not part of it even today. SMUG as an umbrella organization has only got four organizations (Integrity, Spectrum, Icebreakers and FARUG) that comprise this umbrella. Uganda has around 75 organizations doing impacting and useful work with a very wider reach. I have personally met, worked with different organizations and I vouch for their necessary impacting work and tangible deliverables. We continue working with many other people and organizations in Uganda other than SMUG even todate. In all my experiences up to 2011, David Kato was a perennial witness and he presided over some of our community health talks and dialogues.

But, what makes me remember David Kato was his humility, sense of duty and articulation. We worked on different projects but two come to mind. In 2008 and 2009 he sought my counsel on how he should best present position papers. The first was the 2008 HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting in Kampala (U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. 2017). This meeting happened to commence on Uganda Martyrs' Day which is June 3rd (Events History). At the National Shrines both the Anglican and the Roman Catholic Church decried homosexuality. The Church's version is that the martyrs never gave in to the King Mwanga's lecherous advances who in anger had them killed by burning (Joanna Bogle, 2015).  By all means the sermons galvanized Ugandans, especially the leaders, to denounce homosexuality in all its forms. In many cases, there were violent incidents and deaths. Between 2008-2012, MARPS in Uganda documented 720 hate related assaults/repeat assaults, 37 house evictions and 7 deaths. One way to deal homosexuality a blow was to deny LGBTIQQ health services. HIV-AIDS in the gay community at that time was decimating many. So, we planned to attend the HIV/AIDS Implementers' Meeting uninvited with the demand that LGBTIQQ be included as beneficiaries of HIV medicines and services in Uganda. The Uganda Police and Security services rounded us up and took some to prison. I managed to escape. 

 The second occasion was when David Kato had to present during the first Public dialogue following the passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill (AHB), 2009. David Kato was given only 5 minutes to present amidst heckling and repudiations. When his time came he talked about his qualifications, his experience as a deputy headteacher under one of Ministry of Education's Primary Schools. He showed how this school consistently posted good grades. Then he looked straight into the audience and told us how he had "been a homosexual for over 40 years." He, said, contrary to a myth that was doing the rounds, he "was not dripping and was not wearing a diaper." A silence engulfed the event!  David Kato was a graduate and an experienced educator. In sharing his talk he also gave a rebuttal to what had been said by earlier presenters. By the end of the dialogue, media focus was on David Kato who had packaged pathos, ethos, logos, imagery and personal storytelling to yet again stay the arm that was swiftly proceeding to pass the AHA Bill into an Act. 

In writing this piece, I reflected upon activism, advocacy and how they shaped our friendship with David Kato. I  saw first hand the processes of self-determination by gay persons. I also witnessed the pressures to conform to heterosexual normativity brought on by policy, programming, money, political clout and cultural forces. In Uganda, homosexuality is illegal (RIRs). There are those who are allies to gays, there are those who hate them and then there are those who are gay. Same-sex couples are illegal and there have been many mechanisms to stop what is known as the spread of homosexuality (HRW, 2005). David Kato, epitomizes the clash between existential organic nature, human rights, social justice, religious and political views in an African country. On January 23rd 2017, I heard that David Kato's partner called Yusuf Mukuye was bedridden and had little care. I looked him up. I have just read about the David Kato Vision and Voice Award 2017 (Denis Nzioka, 2016). I am working with over 250 LGBTIQQ-living with HIV in Uganda many of whom we keep in touch using different means. I am going to nominate myself and when I win the award, I shall use it to nurse LGBTIQQ-living with HIV including David Kato's partner. I shall not buy expensive office chairs not glazed tables but I shall make sure every single coin goes to food and medication. Yusuf Mukuye was David Kato's partner and after David's death Yusuf was psychologically traumatized. He sought counselling and after a while we got him a teaching job in South Sudan. While he was there he used his savings plus what we added to buy used desktop computers which he used to teach keyboard typesetting and ran a cafe. Yusuf is a  reserved person who would rather keep to himself. He has HIV which, combined with stress has led him to be bedridden. He needs medication and care since he can no longer work. If you are a friend of David Kato, please help me break and share some bread with his partner who is  a reminder to that enduring memory of David Kato.

References:

Denis Nzioka. 2016. David Kato Vision & Voice Award 2017 - Call for Nominations. Retrieved from: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/david-kato-vision-voice-award-2017-call-nominations-denis-nzioka?trk=prof-post. Retrieved on January 24th 2017.

FARUG. Freedom and Roam Uganda. Retrieved from: https://faruganda.wordpress.com/. Retrieved on January 24th 2017.

Joanna Bogle. 2015. Unyielding Faith: The Martyrs of Uganda. Retrieved from: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=8370. Retrieved on January 24th 2017

Events History. n.d. What Happened On 3rd June 2008 In History. Retrieved from: http://www.eventshistory.com/2008-june-3/. Retrieved on January 24th 2017.

Genesis 9. Retrieved from:https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+19. Retrieved on January 24th 2017.

GLAD. 2016. Timeline of Anti-Gay Activity in Uganda. Retrieved from: http://www.glad.org/work/cases/uganda-timeline. Retrieved on January 24th 2017.

HRW. 2005. Uganda: Same-Sex Marriage Ban Deepens Repression. Retrieved from: https://www.hrw.org/news/2005/07/12/uganda-same-sex-marriage-ban-deepens-repression. Retrieved on January 24th 2017.

Icebreakers Uganda. Retrieved from: http://icebreakersuganda.com/. Retrieved on January 24th 2017.

Integrity. 2010. Bishop Ssenyonjo resigns from Integrity Uganda. Retrieved from: http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1034683/bishop-ssenyonjo-resigns-integrity-uganda#sthash.i6zOjd63.dpuf. Retrieved on January 24th 2017.

SAHO. 1999. Judge Edwin Cameron of SA reveals that he has been HIV positive since 1987. Retrieved from: http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/judge-edwin-cameron-sa-reveals-he-has-been-hiv-positive-1987. Retrieved on January 24th 2017.

SMUG. Sexual Minorities Uganda. Retrieved from: https://sexualminoritiesuganda.com/. Retrieved on: January 24th 2017.

RIRs. 2007. Treatment of Homosexuals. Retrieved from: https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2013/11/07/UGA102197.E.pdf. Retrieved on January 24th 2017.

U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. 2017. 2008 HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting Opens in Kampala. Retrieved from: https://2006-2009.pepfar.gov/press/2008/105567.htm. Retrieved on January 24th 2017.