Ugandan bishop describes gay activist's murder as "tragic and cruel"

In an open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury and other Anglican leaders, retired Bishop Christopher Senyonjo described Ugandan gay activist David Kato's murder as "tragic and cruel."

Senyonjo, who opened St. Paul’s Centre for Equality and Reconciliation in Kampala after he retired as bishop of West Buganda a decade ago, urged Rowan Williams and his fellow bishops to do more to combat homophobia, anti-LGBT discrimination and violence.

"A loving Anglican Communion should not keep quiet when the Rolling Stone tabloid in Uganda openly supports the “hanging of the homos,” including a fellow bishop who pleads for their inclusion and non-discrimination" wrote Senyonjo. "Silence has the power to kill. We have witnessed its destruction this past week in the tragic and cruel murder of David Kato."

Senyonjo's statement comes nearly a week after New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and others held vigil for Kato near the United Nations. Roughly 50 people protested outside the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Feb. 3, to draw attention to what they describe as The Fellowship's connection to supporters of a Uganda bill that would impose the death penalty upon anyone found guilty of repeated same-sex acts.

Congressmembers Barney Frank [D-Mass.], Tammy Baldwin [D-Wis.], David Cicilline [D-R.I.], Jared Polis [D-Colo.] and Donald Payne [D-N.J.] are scheduled to conduct a hearing on Capitol Hill on Friday, Feb. 11, about anti-LGBT violence in Uganda.