Ugandan on 'Gay Hit List' Killed

A Ugandan gay rights activist whose name appeared on a tabloid "hit list" has been found beaten to death in his home. "He was killed by someone who came in his house with a hammer, meaning anyone else could be the next target," said a fellow activist. David Kato's name, picture, and address were printed by the newspaper in its list of the country's "top homos," which appeared under the headline "Hang Them," the BBC reports. Kato successfully sued the paper and won an injunction blocking all Ugandan media from outing gays.

Humans Right Watch urged police in Uganda—where homosexuality is illegal and punishable by up to 14 years in jail—to "urgently and impartially investigate the killing." Uganda's government should "ensure that members of Uganda's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community have adequate protection from violence and take prompt action against all threats or hate speech likely to incite violence," the group said in a statement.
(More Uganda stories.)