David Kato buried as pastor condemns homosexuality

Ugandan gay rights campaigner David Kato was buried today but scuffles broke out at his funeral as the pastor urged gays to repent.

Mr Kato, who was murdered in his home on Wednesday, was laid to rest in his village near Kampala.

Around 300 people attended the ceremony, including around 100 gays and lesbians.

US president Barack Obama sent a message to mourners, calling Mr Kato a “powerful advocate for fairness and freedom”.

He urged Ugandan authorities to find and punish Mr Kato’s killers.

Mr Kato’s body was displayed overnight in an open casket at his parents’ home and mourners at his funeral today wore t-shirts with his picture on.

But reports say that the ceremony was disturbed when the pastor began urging gays and lesbians to repent.

According to Reuters, the unnamed pastor told the crowd: “The world has gone crazy.

“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.”

Mr Kato’s friends angrily stormed the pulpit before the pastor was taken away.

The activist’s friends had to bury his coffin because villagers refused to do it, reports said.

He was killed several months after suing a newspaper for publishing his name, address and photo in a homophobic campaign.

Police say one man has been arrested and they are searching for another suspect.

However, they say his sexual orientation had nothing to do with his death.