Misha Bryan sings Rolling in the Deep on X-Factor UK

Leona Lewis won the third series of X-Factor in 2006 because Simon Cowell championed her cause; and she is after all bi-racial with coloured eyes and ‘blonde’ hair, which the British public ‘connect with’ more than the attributes of dark-skinned brown-eyed women of obvious African descent. Furthermore, she has a good, commercially appealing Mariah Carey-style voice and with that “international beige” complexion that is said to sell more records even without any talent attached in this supposedly ‘colour-blind’ world. Yet, the programme makers still found it necessary at the time to bring out Leona’s white mother and grandmother just to remind the good British public that Miss Lewis was in fact just one of them, if a little dusky round the edges.

Alexandra Burke, on the other hand, won the fifth series of X-Factor in 2008 largely because of the Cheryl Cole factor. As her mentor, Cole tried every trick in the book to persuade the folks at home to vote for her protégée, which of course indirectly meant a vote for our Cheryl. If you recall back then, Cheryl performed in-between the voting and all manner of other attempts were made throughout the series to persuade us that we were really voting for Cheryl Cole, our new English Rose, to win the competition between judges that year. Who knows how Dannii Minogue must have felt about it all, but for Cowell, it was an absolute Godsend, driving even more viewers to his moneymaking venture.

That’s not to suggest that Alexandra Burke had no talent, she had it in abundance, but those who know how racially motivated Britain can be were waiting with baited-breath to see if a dark-skinned woman of African descent could actually win this thing. That Burke was taller, leggier, and eurocentrically ‘better looking’ than Misha B, false hair ‘n’ all, played an important role. But we were grateful nonetheless to think that change had come to Britain. It is interesting to note that Burke’s career has never gone beyond the highpoint of her X-Factor win or the Hallelujah single that followed it. It seems that after X-Factor, no one really knows quite what to do with her talents, and she has ended up looking like some forlorn drag queen rather than the international artiste we all presumed she would become. But that mantle is reserved for Leona Lewis in the Cowell stable, and even he still believes lighter is brighter, and will no doubt be backing the Leona Lewis clone, Melanie Amaro, now that Drew is out of the runnings on X-Factor USA. But I digress.

Back in Little Britain, and many are wondering what is it exactly that the British public have against Misha B or her gorgeous mentor, Kelly Rowland, and the fact is they’re just too damn dark and too good for this place. And without Simon Cowell or Cheryl Cole to indirectly big them up, just who the hell do they think they are, anyway, with all that brimming confidence as if they’re better than everybody else is. And that’s just it, they are better than everybody else on that show is, and Britain doesn’t like it one little bit. But the good British public will never express their racist feelings outright (as many Americans might), but like Tula Paulinea “Tulisa” Contostavlos, herself a foreigner, they will find some trumped up excuse to justify their envy and xenophobia or simply put it down to they’re just not likeable or like us, meaning “white” or “English.”

In the final analysis, the only bullying that’s taken place on this year’s X-Factor is the bullying of Misha B. But should she win this eighth series of X-Factor UK, we could safely say that Simon Cowell’s moneymaking ‘talent show’ has single-handedly changed the social consciousness and fabric of Britain and Britishness forever. But that’s unlikely to happen me thinks. The truth is that whether Misha wins this show or not, she truly belongs in the USA as an export to Britain alongside the likes of Missy Elliott or the evergreen Grace Jones. Thank God for producers like Jay-Z with the money, power and influence to make her dreams a reality in this so called entertainment business. I’m sure that with a word from his friend Kelly Rowland, he can see Misha’s talent and hear the ca$h tills ringing. Simon Cowell isn’t the only music mogul in town.

Really enjoyed this piece of social drama. The scene outside the playground was particularly poignant. Great acting from everyone with a sharp script by Julius.

Brilliantly directed. At once, touching and repugnant.

Mr Graham a short film by Julius Amedume

Powerful stuff.

Each Renault Duster now comes with a monthly payment plan.

I know what you’re thinking… NOTHING! That’s where you’re wrong. Today-today, thanks to CFAO Motors’ new comfortable monthly payment plans, you can get a brand new 4*4 Renault Duster from under 500 GHC a month!

That’s right! A brand new 4*4 Renault Duster, equipped to handle the most rugged roads with ease while you ride high and comfortably, like a king in a palanquin. With the AC on full blast and the comforting reassurance of a 3 year warranty.

All for less than 500 GHC a month. Step into a CFAO Motors showroom, and drive out in a shiny new Renault Duster. Drive Happy.

2010 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport – All-round SUV with superior terrain handling ability

I still remember driving a Pajero Super Wagon Turbo way back in 1986. It was quite a machine and generously appointed too, including an oversized sliding sunroof and rear seats that folded to create two beds! And of course, to top it all off, the Pajero had personality. With numerous wins in the legendary Paris-Dakar Rally, the Pajero had created quite a stir with four wheel drive enthusiasts and it wasn’t long before the Mitsubishi Pajero had become quite a global star. Sold in the US as the Mitsubishi Monteros and Dodge Radier, offered in the UK as the Mitsubishi Shogan and in the rest of the world as the Pajero, it had become a well loved vehicle with die hard loyalists. And for good reason of course.

When I was shopping for a four wheel drive last July, there were many options to choose from. Of course there were the home used cars (whose home, I have never understood) which to me, were sick imports that would never be able to be properly serviced in Ghana due to the lack of service expertise or spares or both. So, that really wasn’t an option. In the new car market, there was the Toyota Fortuner which came with sterling Toyota credentials; there were a host of ‘soft roaders’ or crossovers, ranging from the Mitsubishi Outlander to all kinds of ashy Korean imports. And then of course, there was the Pajero Sport. Seeing the Pajero Sport and taking it for a drive, my mind was quickly made up.

As I walked around the Pajero Sport, with one of my colleagues from work, we couldn’t help notice the incredible ground clearance, great for Ghana we agreed. We saw the low angles of attack and departure which give the car a go anywhere, climb anything stance undoubtedly masculine and with no apology. Popping the hood we saw the highly acclaimed 2.5 liter turbocharged ‘commonrail’ diesel power plant, offering exceptional power and performance o the back of four modestly sized cylinders.

Premium Interior Cabin Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2010

Having had the car for almost a year, all I can say is that it has been an absolute joy. Offering exceptional off road ability while maintaining great road manners the Pajero Sport comes with Mitsubishi’s very own rally inspired ‘super select’ transmission, which allows both low and high range four wheel drive operation in addition to a central differential lock, which, as o road enthusiasts will tell you, can be quite a life saver when the going gets really-really tough. Putting it into the diff lock mode is really quite an awesome experience. With all four of my all terrain tires struggling in the sand, I decided to test the central di lock, which works like a charm. Once locked, you can feel the torque of the low ratio gears transferring power to both front and rear wheels in roughly equal measure. This gets your vehicle out of the stickiest of situations, so long as you know the fundamentals of off roading.

On the road, the Pajero Sport really is a surprisingly rened road vehicle as well. The perky engine means that it gives this two ton truck quite a perky acceleration, which is such a help on the highways. Diesels are prized for the their power and torque and not their acceleration and yet the commonrail technology offered on this powerplant means quite a spirited and smooth power band, without having to rev the engine too high. It has an amazingly good turning radius, which means that getting in and out of parking spots is a breeze. And of course, great visibility all round.

It comes with a decent stereo system with steering mounted controls; the dashboard has a nifty little console that is ever willing to calculate your fuel economy over the past four hours (even draws a graph!) or indicate your altitude or give you a compass direction. There is even a barometer and of course a thermometer which gives readings as and when you like. The climate control is quite a nice feature as are the easy to read instrumentation and controls.

With fantastic service and support (and in a part of town that I can get to) scheduled maintenance is as quick as it is professional. Sum up? Great go anywhere car. On the downside, it can’t wait to get out of town and play.

Here, the Samburu, a pastoral community still clung on traditional culture, parents are joining their kindred in classrooms. However, the parents are not studying for exams but to demystify education, understand it so that they can accord their children proper guidance.

“We’re doing this so that we can actively monitor the progress of our children’s education,” says Alice Lesororo, a mother of six children at Longewan Primary School.

Like hundreds of parents in Samburu, Lesororo is being introduced to the process of the school system so that she can appreciate education and offer the best support to her children.

“Today I have learnt what to look for in an exercise book. I know when my children have failed and when they have got sums right,” she enthuses when we catch up with her during break time.

With an acute sense of insecurity, drought and a bleak future, parents here know the way to sustain and perpetuate a generation is through the classroom and not the age-old culture of cattle and raids.

“I want the best for my children,” Lesororo declares thoughtfully. “I have six children in this school; it is important they succeed. Education is their future.”

Ordinarily at this hour, Lesororo would be tending to cattle. Her children used to miss school in turns to support in domestic chores. All that is in the past, she promises.

Parents here are increasingly being sensitized on education issues. Today, they troop classes and seminars in their hundreds in a bid to understand the dynamics of education, a pattern that repeats with rhythm and fabled harmony. They love it, thanks to an elaborate home-grown model mooted by retired teachers to stimulate the growth of education in an area where literacy levels are hitting the 90 per cent mark.

“Former teachers chose to sensitize parents on the importance of their children’s education. We realized that there was little appreciation of education due to illiteracy. That is why we chose to bring them to classrooms,” says Joseph Owino, one of the founders of Samburu Education Empowerment Programme (SEEP).

Parents join the classroom for a seminar.

Their efforts have given forth fruits. Today, the Samburu parent knows the primacy of working closely with the teacher and pupils in an interesting tripartite arrangement.

Now the parents understand the importance of inspecting exercise books. They are being encouraged to allow their children time to complete assignments. The parents are aware too that the future of their sons and daughters is not in the meadows but classrooms.

Rose Lenkai knows this too well. Her children go to Lesuuk Primary School, and Rose has been keen to know why the homework seems to be too little. She raised the issue with some teachers and the workload increased a bit.

“Now my children are busy. When I have time, I assist in the revision,” she says.

SEEP came up with an ingenious way of engaging parents. First, they explained the difference between a ‘tick’ and ‘X’. they know what to look for. Parents also can count the pages of the exercise book to determine whether the assignments are enough. They no longer tolerate absenteeism.

This new wave is threatening to the non-performing teachers. Not once, parents have stormed schools to demand explanation when pupils lag behind.
“Some parents now know the syllabus and we can’t afford to drag our feet. There is a time they came to demand why their children were not given enough assignments,” Rodgers Wambuko, the head teacher Lesuuk says.

This is a mark of how interventions are changing lives in communities. Parents are finding the opportunity outstanding. Initially, schools here were registering very low enrollment, there was runaway absenteeism, but all that seem to be in the past as the new wave catches momentum.

“Initially we believed education is the prerogative of teachers. We never bothered. But now we have been sensitized and we are keen,” Lesororo says.
And it doesn’t end at the classroom. Lesororo says every evening she must check her daughter’s exercise books to see if it has been marked. She knows that she can confront a teacher in the event of laxity. She knows the difference between a right and a wrong and she knows that her daughter must go to school. That’s not enough. She knows every day the teacher must give her daughter some assignments.

“We chose to provide seminars to parents and encourage them to take interest in education for the good of their children,” says Owino. “Children are no-longer let to go for wood or herding. Parents take that role,” she says.

Parents now support their children in education.

Leah Njeri, a programme advisor at SNV Netherlands Development Organization is upbeat that the next generation of Samburu will not be one of bows and arrows but one with pens and papers. SNV has been keen on changing the fortunes of education in marginalized areas by building the capacities of such organization as SEEP and the Ministry of Education.

“Our approach is holistic. It ranges from empowering on proper management of funds to attracting and retaining pupils,” Njeri says.

Education no doubt is gaining currency here as the new social economic enterprise in this county. Parents tread unchartered paths, away from the pastureland and the under-tree tobacco-snuffing-prattle to ensure that their kindred invest for the future. This idea was mooted to bring to speed the county at par with other areas.

“We demystify what education is, and know the importance of education and how they can participate in the growth of their children,”Owino says.

We encourage parents to prepare their children in the morning for school, to monitor performance in schools. Most of those we target are the ones who don’t understand the workings of a school environment,” he says.

In the manyattas, we bump in Josephine Namlek. She peruses the exercise book of her child to check on progress and performance. She follows up with the school to establish the problem. This way everything is put on the straight and the narrow. Education for the daughter has really improved, she says.

Namlek also enlists the services of older children to guide her on the performance of the younger ones.

“I didn’t know what to do with elder children. Perhaps that is why they didn’t perform well. Today I know better,” Namlek says.

Wambuko is happy, he says. There is positive change among stakeholders following genuine participation and interrogation.

“We assist the parents to get the feel of a classroom. We guide them to cross-check the progress of school work and not to be misled by cheeky pupils. Therefore, they count the pages; put identifying marks to see progress. Parents-support groups represent the classes,” Owino explains. Here, parents have been encouraged to provide time, space, lighting, food and to closely work with teachers.

Test drive the new Renault Duster today at CFAO Motors on the Airport Bypass Road (Accra).

Inside, it feels very snug and safe. The high seating positions give the driver a commanding view of the road ahead and a sense of complete control. The interior is neatly put together; most buttons are laid out in the centre console. The sound system can be controlled from the steering wheel, so you won’t have to keep looking down to adjust volume or find a station. It took me a while to figure out where everything was, but once you get used to the button placement, you’ll be fine. I was especially intrigued by the horn. For me, it was pretty unconventional. I spent a lot of time honking it. Good fun.

The Duster may not look extraordinary at first glance, but it is for a few reasons:

First off, Dusters come in 4*4 or 2*4 versions. But whichever version you decide to get, one thing’s for sure: you’ll never have to worry about driving on rough or uneven roads again. The high ground clearance on these cars means they won’t hit or scratch any high bumps. The tough suspension complements that and allows you to confidently cruise along on any sort of terrain, rough, muddy or smooth, in total control.

The second thing is fuel consumption. With a 1.6 litre engine, it stands out as a very sensible car choice – especially for quickly darting in and around down. It’s the only crossover vehicle I know about with a 1.6 litre engine, and that’s because there aren’t many.

The third thing is price. At US$22,500, there isn’t much competition out there in terms of value. And if you combine that with the expert after sales servicing that CFAO Motors does on all its cars, you can be sure that value will last for a long time.

Truthfully, beyond looks and beyond the name (I’ve never understood why they named it “Duster” apart from the fact that it might sweep away any competition), it’s one of the most practical options out there in terms of cost and value. And the fact that you can go anywhere with it and it will comfortably handle any road condition is just a load of stress off the shoulders.

If I had to sum it up in three words, they would be: Practical. Smart. Affordable. See for yourself!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-VTECPHD9E

The Upsetter film was written, directed and produced by independent filmmakers Ethan Higbee (Red Apples Falling, The Anti-Fascist, Basedworld) and Adam Bhala Lough (Bomb The System, Weapons, The Carter), who over seven years in-the-making, seemed to be the only fortunate folks to recently catch up with Lee for the coherent one-on-one interviews featured in the film, which contributed heavily towards making it one of film’s many highlights and comparable to past rare music-related footage from the beginning of Perry’s career, bits of, which are seen on most well-documented historical reggae films. From Lee’s early childhood, the movie unfolds chronologically moving the viewer from Lee’s introduction to the Jamaican music industry, to his relationship with Bob Marley, to the rise and fall of his once vibrant Black Ark studio, to his temporary ‘disappeared’ stage of depression and drinking, and seeking his refuge to Switzerland with a new life, wife Mireille, new family (including 2 kids) and a new lease on re-launching his music career, as a solo artist.

Lee 'Scratch' Perry

Narrated by Oscar-winning actor Benicio Del Toro, The Upsetter film captures magnificent still photography and unseen video of yesteryear and today that, even as fast as they flash across the screen, muster-up a million thoughts asking yourself – “how was life in the past for Jamaicans? What truly shaped the many musical geniuses from such a small island in the Caribbean, impacting and influencing the many gems we know and possibly take for granted as ‘popular’ or ‘underground’ music of today?” Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry creatively pushed us forward by inventing his own unique formula in productions, propelling hundreds of hit-records behind the vocals of such artists as Max Romeo, Bob Marley, Junior Murvin, Junior Byles and The Congos, just to name a few. He was definitely at the forefront of this golden time, laying the foundation for the purest and most original forms of electronic music and hip-hop, before of course these genres even adopted their names or had an established industry behind them.

But besides an obvious focus on the spark in music technology led by Lee, Jamaican lingo and lifestyle, Lee’s depth of religious fanatical behavior, his fascination with painting art, his non-reggae production credits featuring The Clash, Beatsie Boys, Paul McCartney (all of whom are featured in this flick) and his bizarre display of humor, of which there’s lots within the movie to absorb, one of the most powerful aspects of this film is how and why Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry has become who he is – father, husband, singer, songwriter, producer, poet, painter, genius and madman aka ‘Pipecock Jackxon’, ‘Super Ape’, ‘Ringo’, ‘Wonder Man’, ‘Jamaican E.T.’ and many other monikers. On the surface, he appears to be a misfit or completely insane, but nobody remains married, raises a family and continues to record, tour, win a Grammy and remain as musically relevant 40+ years after his career took flight. Unless… well I won’t give away the most bizarre piece of insight Lee hints at throughout parts of the film, enabling him to escape his own demons, outside parasites and other earthly-bound human hindrances, in order for him to live successfully in whichever planet he pleases.

Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry recently celebrated his 75th birthday. To view the trailer for The Upsetter and for more details on the release and the upcoming screenings, please visit: www.theupsettermovie.com

Alzheimer’s Disease is a disorder that destroys brain cells and causes memory loss. It can result in a disruptive life and is progressively fatal. It is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States.

While the average lifespan of an African-American has been increasing in recent years this hasn’t resulted in increased health span. The health of our brain has not kept up with the extension in life span. More and more elderly people are suffering from dementia and a disproportionate number of African-Americans are plagued with Alzheimer’s disease.

To make matters worse, the people who are most at risk of developing the disease are much less likely to have it properly diagnosed. According to a study by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to dismiss the symptoms of dementia as just a normal part of ageing. Some 70% of African-Americans versus 53% of Caucasians think that dementia is naturally expected to occur in the elderly. This means that people who display symptoms of early onset Alzheimer’s are not getting the medical attention they require.

While Alzheimer’s disease is incurable at this time not every form of dementia is Alzheimer’s. There are other reasons why an older person will display symptoms of dementia and some of them are treatable. There are circulatory problems that can create moments of forgetfulness and certain pharmaceuticals that can have adverse effects on cognitive abilities. By recognizing the symptoms sooner, medical professionals can make recommendations that may improve the brain health of individuals with certain types of dementia.

Brain health research suggests there are things that you can do to decrease your chances of developing dementia. Improving your overall health will have the biggest impact on your brain’s health as you age. That’s because the brain is vulnerable to damage is caused by poor diet and cardiovascular disease. By beginning an exercise program along with sensible diet rich in fresh vegetables, whole grains and low fat foods you can expand your lifespan and increase your health stand too.

Older adults are advised to seek medical advice before beginning any type of exercise program or a significant change of diet. Start by increasing your physical activity slowly day-by-day, and eventually, ramping up to being much more active than you are right now. Studies have shown that just regular walking, 30 minutes a day, three days a week, will have a dramatic impact on your overall health.

Within months of beginning a walking exercise program, you should see a decrease in high blood pressure, low levels of bad cholesterol, and an increase in energy along with better digestion and sounder sleep. People who regularly walk, live longer, and perform better on cognitive tests. Best of all, it doesn’t cost a thing to get out and start walking. With so much to lose, it’s vital that we encourage our elders to begin a fitness program.

Katerina Graham @ 14th Annual Friends N Family Grammy Event at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles - Feb. 11, 2011.

This night was hosted by music management group AAM’s Mark Beaven and Andy Kipnes, and more than 20 top music executives. UV Vodka and Red Bull provided the beverages for the bar while live performances by Yelawolf, Kid Sister, and Jermaine Dupri fueled the excitement of party goers, who really turned out to be over 3000 of the music industry’s heavyweights who came out decked off, as if to compete against their coastal rivals strutting around in another ‘place to be’ as part of New York’s Fashion Week. There was even a John Lennon Educational Tour Bus parked outside the sound stages, which turned out to be a super cool mobile recording studio and HD production facility that travels throughout the year bringing hands on music and production education to students. www.lennonbus.org

An exclusive closing set by DJ Muggs and Mix Master Mike nicely rounded out the evening. Perez Hilton hung with Paris Hilton backstage; Jermaine Dupri and Kid Sister took in Tinie Tempah’s set next to the stage; while some used the opportunity to break free and loose from their ‘industry’ mode, making for one of the less pretentious atmospheres in Los Angeles, yet still being a party where most of everyone are somewhat ‘in the know’ and set new trends in music’s creative process. Living the best balance between normal and ‘Hollywood’, the night was truly reflective of the ‘FnF’ theme.

“This year, our 14th Annual Friends ‘ N” Family event, was our  biggest yet,” says Mark Beaven who’s baby this is.

Performers for the night include Caroline D’Amore, The Cataracs, Dirty Vegas (DJ Set), DJ Cam, DJ Muggs, Jermaine Dupri, Kid Sister, Mia Moretti and Caitlin Moe, Mix Master Mike, Oh Land, Priscilla Renea, Taryn Manning, Tinie Tempah and Yelawolf. Whilst amongst the other celebrities in attendance who just mingled and chilled, the event saw La Roux, Lil Wayne, LMFAO, Mario, Mya, Oh Darling, Omarion, Ron Jeremy, Sam Sparro, Sasha, Scott Weiland, Tila Tequila and many others pass through!

“I highly think his death is related to the homophobia from the religious groups and to winning the High Court judgement against the newspaper,” said Frank Mugisha, executive director, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG).

Murdered Ugandan gay activist David Kato.

Kato was brutally beaten over the head with a hammer in his home on January 25, and died shortly after on his way to hospital. Police reports state that Nsubuga Enock, also known as Sydney, was arrested and had confessed to the crime.

Against the backdrop of mounting international pressure to cancel the stalled anti-homosexuality bill which criminalizes anyone who is gay and tendered in parliament in 2009 by David Bahati, and scrutiny of abuses against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community (LGBT), it seems apparent that the Ugandan authorities are deflecting the motive for Kato’s murder from one of retaliatory action for the High Court judgement and the virulent homophobia to besmirching his memory.

The Ugandan state police in a statement issued by Major General Kale Kayihura, Inspector General of Police, and published on the Uganda’s official Website on February 3, while carelessly mistyping the month of the occurrence as February instead of January, said that “Nsubuga on the 25th of February 2011 negotiated with the suspect to be paid money for using him as [a] sexual partner, but the promise was never fulfilled. He claimed the deceased convinced him to play sex with him in the night after making him drunk from a nearby pub. He claims he was provoked to hit the victim because he was demanding to play sex with him that afternoon and yet he was not interested in the same.”

The statement said that Nsubuga has a long criminal record. He was on remand for theft of a phone but also had other criminal records in his home area. The statement does not say whether or not Nsubuga participated in any sexual activity with Kato.

“Nsubuga confessed that he picked a hammer from the bathroom and hit him on the head, which resulted into his death. Nsubuga, further said that he locked the house and took off with some of the items belonging to the deceased,” the statement said. Senoga, a car driver who Kato frequently hired was also arrested and held for further questioning. He had visited the house earlier in the day and like Nsubuga, was seen by neighbours behaving suspiciously.

Kayihura said that investigations so far conducted show no indications that the deceased campaign against the Homosexuality Bill was a contributing factor to his death, “The police has not received any information pointing to a hate crime apart from speculation from the public. In addition, I request sections of the Clergy campaigning against homosexuality to exercise restraint.”

In response, Mugisha, who has known Kato for several years, since their years working together at Integrity Uganda, said, “It is highly unlikely that David would pay anyone for sex.”

As with many others who worked with SMUG, Kato often had to scrounge around for money to help bail people who were arrested, especially if they were LGBT, which meant that they would have been disowned by their families, and on their release from jail would have been homeless, said Mugisha. As part of his work, Kato, he said, had quite likely bailed Enock out of jail and since he was homeless, offered him a place to stay. He added that given the depth of his relationship with Kato, he would’ve known if anyone was staying with him in his home.

Contradicting Enock’s claims and the insinuations made by the police, Mugisha said, “Anyone who knew David knew that he didn’t have any money to promise anyone a house, car, as was reported. The media says David had a house and car, but all the stories are untrue. They are saying that David was trying to give money to a straight person and that SMUG and David were getting money from foreign sources, and that he had lots of money.”

But the story of Kato’s death could be traced back to Oct 2, 2010 when The Rolling Stone newspapers published photographs of Ugandans suspected of being gay with the headline “100 Pictures of Uganda’s Top Homos” and a banner “Hang Them”, which prominently featured retired Anglican bishop, Bishop Christopher Senyonjo and Kato side by side. It was as if they and the 98 others, including human rights activist Kasha Jacqueline and Pepe Onziema were suddenly marked as targets.

Even before the publication of Kato’s picture in the newspapers, his work as an advocacy and litigation officer for SMUG, who championed the cause of LGBT rights and in real ways the plight of many who were arrested and jailed, meant that he was the focus of many people’s attention and ire. According to Mugisha, a month before his demise Kato had told him that he was afraid for his safety.

Jacqueline, the founder and executive director of Freedom and Roam Uganda, on Feb 15 published a statement in the Kampala Dispatch. In it she said that Rolling Stone accused her of having held parties and orgies for homosexuals at her home and that she was involved in brainwashing children into being homosexual, and reputedly quoted her as saying, “We are targeting those as young as 12-years old, as they are easy to persuade to join gay groups.”

The Ugandan newspaper Rolling Stone in Kampala, Uganda, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010, reveals the identity of allegedly gay members of Ugandan society and calls for public punishment against those individuals.

The accusation of influencing children to which Jacqueline refers was a tactic used by U.S. religious evangelists, including Scott Lively, who had visited Uganda in March 2009 and advised those who attended a workshop that gays and lesbians in Uganda are receiving funding from international organizations to turn their children gay, and that the gays and lesbians in Uganda are using money to buy, coerce and force children to become gay.

“I have never said such a thing. I have never even thought such a thing – and even if someone was throwing homosexual orgies at my house, they never invited me,” she said. Jacqueline added that those people whose pictures were published in the newspapers were attacked, had rocks thrown at them, many had to abandon their homes, and have gone into hiding in safe houses around the country. Because it was known that there would be no support or relief from the authorities, Jacqueline said they all were too afraid to file police reports.

It was in this atmosphere of homophobic hysteria stirred up by the newspapers that in November 2010 Kato, Jacqueline, and Onziema filed a suit in the Ugandan High Court against Rolling Stone on the grounds that whether gay or straight, all Ugandans have a right to privacy and safety against incitements to violence. Jacqueline said that while she never denied her sexual orientation in her affidavit, the issue concerned the rights that Ugandans should have to be protected from the incitement of violence and violation of their privacy, “No one should ever wake up and see a call for violence and his [or her] home address published in a newspaper.”

On his Facebook page, Giles Muhame, editor of the newspapers, issued a “press” statement where he repeated many unproven and unsubstantiated calumnies against Kato. Drawing on references of child corruption, he said that in the court case, a man named Kagaba swore that Kato “was seriously recruiting kids into homosexual circles,” and that Kato was fired from his job as head teacher of a Christian-founded school in Nkoni, Masaka District, likely because “he could have been sodomizing kids, including one Douglas whom he stayed with.”

Mugisha said that Kato was never fired from his position as head teacher of the school, but it was the naked homophobia, including being physically attacked, as the reason he never returned to the school. The members of SMUG, he added, now after Kato’s death, have to work even stronger, “We cannot give up. This death was an eye-opener for our security. We always underestimated our security. Before we never paid much attention to the church groups, but now we have to.”

Following filing the suit, Justice Kibuuka Musoke issued an injunction against the newspapers prohibiting it from publishing more photographs and awarded the plaintiffs 1.5M Ugandan Shillings ($640) as compensation. Muhame said the paper is appealing the ruling. But, according to Jacqueline, the proceedings turned ugly in December, when as well as being bodily mistreated by court officials, she was attacked by known anti-gay pastor Solomon Male. On Jan 3, she said the judge’s ruling “clarified a nuance of the law, that while certain homosexual acts may still be illegal, maintaining a homosexual identity is not. In Uganda, a person is free to identify themselves however they please, and cannot be persecuted for it. Therefore, a newspaper like The Rolling Stone cannot incite violence against innocent citizens, and cannot invade their privacy.”

As one whose face was plastered on the newspaper’s front page, Bishop Senyonjo on Feb 8 broke his silence surrounding Kato’s death and the High Court ruling. The bishop, a heterosexual married man, was forced to retire and was denied his pension by the Anglican diocese of Uganda because of his work with and for the LGBT community. In an open letter to Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams, other primates, bishops, clergy and people of the diverse Anglican Communion, Bishop Senyonjo said, “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! Silence has the power to kill. We have witnessed its destruction this past week in the tragic and cruel murder of David Kato.”

Bishop Christopher Senyonjo, often referred to as the Desmond Tutu of Uganda, is an outspoken advocate for human rights.

The Bishop added that if Anglicans in one country dehumanize, persecute and imprison minorities, that people everywhere must be true to the Gospel and challenge such assaults on basic human rights.

“The key to our ministry must be to educate our people and encourage LGBT people to tell their stories and the impact of homophobia in their lives. Listening to the stories of LGBT people was the beginning of my own transformation,” he said.

Mugisha said that the virulent anti-gay pastor Martin Ssempa reportedly said that Kato was killed because he was living a dangerous life as a gay person.

The newspaper’s editor, in an interview with the Guardian Newspapers on Jan 27, said that he was sorry for Kato’s family and his death, repeated many unproven and unsubstantiated allegations surrounding Kato, “This looks like any other crime. I have no regrets about the story. We were just exposing people who were doing wrong..”

But in comments to his posting on Facebook, one person, Hyena Rubahoma said, “I highly doubt if that Kato guy was murdered, as said by the Police. Chances are 99.5% that he could have been excessively bum-drilled that he lost sense and later died. And besides, death of such evil guys reduces on the number of such evil activists.” As if agreeing, Muhame replied, “hehehe…that’s a good one my dia friend….hehehe….”

The court verdict, Jacqueline said, has shown that indeed, justice is possible in this world and more so in this country. She added that as members of a marginalized community, many people have taken advantage of their oppression to satisfy their political, economic, and social greed and bigotry, “We are victims of oppression in so many ways. And for being just who we are, many have turned us into targets of oppression. But we refuse to be silent. The stories of people fighting against injustice have always been about a minority, because social justice struggles are fought by a minority for a majority.

“The court verdict reminded us all that Uganda is no place for hatred and impunity. Irresponsible journalism has no place in this country. The Rolling Stone tabloid and its editors may not have anticipated that they would be victims of their own actions, but we would never wish for or call for them to be “hanged”. A media that is based on untruthfulness is an enemy of the nation. Let this be the beginning of responsible journalism for justice and equality.

“But one verdict does not mean that we have won the struggle. We still have a lot of sensitizing to do, especially to the people in rural areas, before people fully understand just how big a lie The Rolling Stone published. We have to know that we are all different in many ways and that we cannot all be the same. My hope is that we can learn to live together in this beautiful country of our without stigma and discrimination, but with respect and tolerance.”

The editors of the Kampala Dispatch said that two weeks prior to publishing Jacqueline’s statement, they tried to obtain a comment from at least two people behind the anti-gay vitriol, Bahati and Ethics and Integrity Minister James Nsaba Buturo, who would not return any calls.