Aluta continua: The passion of David Kato Kisule
by Eric Banks 

Prologue

David:
My name is David Kato Kisule. 
David is my Christian name,
Kato is given to the younger of twin boys, 
and Kisule is the name of my clan.

I was born on the 13th of February 1964, 
in the village of Nakawala,
in the Mukono district, near Kampala.
My mother is Lydia Mulumba.
She was a nurse.
She saved all her money to send me 
to the finest schools in Uganda.
Then after graduation, I was hired as a teacher, 
but fired from that job for being gay.

Chorus:
David was loving. 
David was kind. 
David was charming. 
David was refined.

David was thoughtful. 
David was open.
David was respectful. 
David was driven.

David:
I left Uganda in 1992, to teach for a while in South Africa,
and when I first arrived in Johannesburg,
I was staying at the YMCA.

I noticed these men who were lingering on the street.
So I asked the women who were working in the hotel:
“What are they doing?” And they told me:

Women:
“Some of these men are selling diamonds and gold, 
and others are selling themselves.”

David:
I saw some men who were choosing 
other men,
and I thought: “Ah!”

Chorus:
“Ah!”

David:
I’d always wanted to be with another man, 
so I gathered my courage, and took to the street.

I handed one of the men a lot of money,
and he pointed me in the direction of some bar. 
And when I walked in, everyone’s eyes were on me.
I had just moved there, I was so young then, and I was eager.

After a few minutes more, I left with a man.
When we entered his house, he took me to his bed. 
When I climbed in, I stayed at the edge, like a child.
Then he said:

Men:
A man...
“Come closer to me. Closer….”

David:
That was my very first time. 
My eyes were opened.

After that, I discovered a society, 
a community of gay people,
who now could sing holding hands. 
Oh, I liked it! And I asked myself:

Chorus:
Sing holding hands... 
“Could it be true?”

David:
“Could it be true?”
After six years in South Africa,
I returned back home to Uganda,
and began the fight to liberate our people.

Chorus:
David was talkative. 
David was proud. 
David was aggressive. 
David was brave.

David:
In 1998, I held a press conference, and came out.
I was punched in the face by police, then arrested.

I am the first gay man to be open in Uganda, 
the very first man.

Chorus:
The constitution of Uganda prohibits same-sex marriage,
and the national penal code outlaws behavior 
that is “against the order of nature.”

David:
People here have been brainwashed from childhood 
to hate those with different sexual orientations.
They are provoked even more by the teachings 
of the American Pentecostal Church.

Chorus: (quoting Lou Engle, tune GREATOREX)
“Uganda is a Christian nation.
The blood of Jesus must wash this land.”
 
David:
The American evangelicals came to Africa 
because they could no longer preach in their own country.
They claimed that homosexuals are recruiting children,
causing all of the parents in Uganda to hate us.

Chorus (continuation of GREATOREX):
“As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be...”

David:
I’m sorry. Life is not static! It moves! Things change!

Chorus: (paraphrasing Scott Lively, tune BETHANY)
“Homosexuality does not benefit society, 
this is but a fallacy, and will always be.
Still all our words will be: stop homosexuality; 
make it public policy: this is our decree.”

David:
These Americans who preach so much hatred 
don’t realize that they are talking to people 
who often take the law into their own hands.

Chorus (final phrase of GREATOREX):
“World without end. Amen.”

David:
On the 3rd of March 2004, I was one of the founders 
of Sexual Minorities Uganda, or SMUG.
My work is with organizations that render services 
for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, 
and intersex people of Uganda.

I am their advocate and litigation officer. 
Most of my work is to document violence 
and discrimination against gay people.
I know the Ugandan court system very well.

Chorus:
David often worried about others than himself. 
David was concerned for their security.
David was so generous with his money and his time.
David was always mindful of community.

Chorus:
David Bahati, a member of parliament, 
proposed an “anti-homosexuality bill” 
on the 14th of October 2009.

This “kill the gays” bill, which is currently tabled, 
proposes life in prison for the “offense” of homosexuality,
and for repeat, “aggravated” offenders, 
the mandatory penalty will be death.

Aiding or abetting the gay community, 
including HIV testing, is punishable by 7 years in prison.

Any Ugandan who knows a homosexual 
and does not report them within 24 hours 
will be subject to a sentence of 3 years in prison.

In the entire history of Uganda,
no proposed law has ever caused so much controversy.

David:
If we are going to fight this bill, then we must gather 
every bit of evidence of discrimination.
We have to document everything. 
Now we must. I must stop this bill.

Chorus:
This legislation is bipartisan.
95% of Uganda does not support homosexuality.
It is considered un-African, inconsistent with procreation,
and the continuity of family and clan.

David:
This bill targets everyone!

If you are a parent with a child who is gay, 
you must report them.
If you are a doctor with a patient who is gay, 
you must report them.

Lesbians are now being raped by their relatives; 
they call it “corrective” or “curative” rape.
What can we do?

Chorus:
No longer...
There is no longer a debate in Uganda
as to whether homosexuality is right or not. 
It is not. It is not a human right.

David:
We have to push back! We have to press on!

Chorus:
There is no amount of pressure or intimidation from anyone 
that can force us to condone what God condemns.

David:
We have to keep fighting. We know what we want.

Chorus:
The law of the land is very clear: homosexuality is illegal.

David:
The struggle continues! Aluta continua!

Chorus:
David could be noble, when he was inspired. 
David was resourceful, even when he tired.

David could be fearless, when he was enraged. 
David could be hopeless, then he would complain.

David:
Our politicians now are fueling the homophobia. 
They are going to start killing us here.

Chorus:
Aluta continua!
 
Chorus:
On the 9th of October 2010,
the local newspaper, Rolling Stone, 
published the names, the addresses, and photographs
of Uganda’s “top 100 homosexuals.” 
Giles Muhame, the editor of the paper, 
described his investigation:

Chorus: (quoting Giles Muhame) 
“We use a technique called “disguise.” 
We pretend that we are one of them. 
We join them. We drink with them.
We get to know all the members. 
We get their pictures at parties...
(You see?) ...and we get all the facts.”

Chorus:
On the front page of the tabloid he published David’s picture,
next to a bright yellow banner saying: “Hang them!”

Chorus: (quoting Giles Muhame)
“Here we have quoted a church leader
who has called for the hanging of homosexuals. 
We are not telling people to hang them.
No, in Uganda people do not hang each other. 
It’s the government that does that.”

Chorus:
David, along with Kasha Nabagesera and Pepe Onziema, 
two of his colleagues from SMUG, sued the paper:
for inciting violence against them,
for threatening their fundamental freedoms, 
for attacking their right to human dignity, 
and for violating their constitutional right to privacy.

Chorus: (quoting Giles Muhame) 
“We want the government to hang 
people who promote homosexuality.
They are a curse and an abomination in our country.”

Chorus:
On the 2nd of November 2010,
the Ugandan High Court granted their petition, 
and ordered the newspaper to stop publication, 
but Muhame appealed the verdict:

Chorus: (quoting Giles Muhame) 
“We are now preparing the evidence, 
which is overwhelming.
I am very confident this time.”

Chorus:
But on the 3rd of January 2011, his appeal was denied,
and the paper was ordered to pay a settlement 
to all three plaintiffs, and to cease all activity.

Chorus: (quoting Giles Muhame)
“When we get more sophisticated cameras, 
we will ignore the right of privacy
in the interest of the public.”
 
David:
Do you remember the other day, 
after I saw you at the courthouse?
When I was leaving through the front gate, 
I saw a group of policemen standing there. 
When one of them saw me,
he pointed at me and shouted:

Chorus:
“There he is. He is one of them.”

David:
They began to chase me, they chased me, 
and I had to run for my life.

This is why I will no longer go to court 
unless someone is with me.

We have to be more careful.

Chorus:
On December 10th 2010,
the Secretary General of the United Nations,
Ban Ki Moon, called on all countries 
to decriminalize homosexuality.

This was a universal declaration 
to guarantee all human beings
their basic human rights, without exception.

Let justice reign!
The struggle continues! Aluta continua!

David:
The uproar over the bill has reached a fever pitch abroad.
There are condemnations, and threats to cut off aid.
Even the Ugandan cabinet is sharply divided.

All the politicians are hoping that President Museveni will say:

Chorus:
“Go and arrest them! Kill them all!”

David:
Truly, that’s what they wanted,
Because they claim to be so very Christian.

Tell me: what have I done to deserve this? 
Why do I have to live such a life?

I’m so fed up with being scared, 
So tired of being careful.

I have a very big house, 
And I sleep here alone. 
Sometimes I am fearful.

What if they come to get me when I’m alone?

Chorus: (paraphrasing Lydia, David’s mother)
David appeared to his mother in a dream. 
He was twisting and turning.
He was trying to get up,
but each time was struck down,
again and again and again.
 
Chorus: (quoting Frank Mugisha)
David Kato Kisule
was brutally beaten to death in his home today, 
the 26th of January 2011, in the afternoon,
by an unknown assailant. 

“Could it be true?”

Solo baritone: (quoting John Wambere)
“I was the first to hear the news.
I had to see it for myself, and find the others. 
So I ran to the house, as fast as I could: 
stumbling with one leg in my pants,
and a shirt over my shoulder.”

Chorus:
Across the country, the entire community is in shock,
as we are mourning the loss of a dear friend, colleague,
teacher, family member, and human rights defender.

Solo baritone: (quoting John Wambere) 
“When I came into the bedroom, it was a gruesome scene:
David’s blood was on his mattress, 
and in a pool on the floor;
blood was scattered everywhere,
and the hammer had been taken away. 
It was then that I knelt down to pray.”

Chorus:
Sexual Minorities Uganda calls upon 
the police and local government
to seriously investigate the circumstances 
surrounding David’s death.

Solo mezzo soprano: (quoting Kasha Nabagesera)
“I am afraid of dead bodies,
but I went to the mortuary anyway, to identify David,
and what I saw there will never leave my mind.”

Chorus:
We also call upon religious leaders, politicians, and the media
to stop demonizing sexual minorities in Uganda, 
since doing so creates a climate
of violence against gay people.

Solo mezzo soprano: (quoting Kasha Nabagesera)
“David has always been our “Gogo,” 
our grandfather, and now he is gone.
We will not rest until we find David’s murderer.”

Chorus:
David’s life was cut short in a brutal manner.
He will be deeply missed by his family and friends,
his students, and human rights organizations 
throughout Uganda and around the world.

Solo soprano: (quoting John Wambere)
“We stayed through the night at David’s house.
And on the next morning,
we made arrangements for his burial. 
We chose his casket,
and announced his death to the media.
We were broken, but we were strong; 
we were afraid, but we were brave;
we had to give David a proper goodbye.”

Chorus:
(quoting Christopher, who refers to the Apostle Paul)
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, 
there is neither slave nor free, 
there is neither black nor white, 
there is neither rich nor poor, 
there is neither female nor male, 
there is neither gay nor straight,
but we are all one, one before God...”

Christopher:
My name is Christopher Senyonjo. 
I have served as bishop in the Church of Uganda.
A few years ago, a group of young people came to me;
they were bothered about their sexuality.

They were suffering rejection and abuse 
because they were gay.

I told them to accept themselves as they are, 
and my church ordered me to condemn them. 
I knew my church was wrong, so I refused,
and after 24 years of serving the church of Uganda, 
I was excommunicated.

On the day of the burial, I was there,
with family and friends, with diplomats and police, 
and reporters from around the world.
I was there to honor David.

But, this is how it is in Uganda:
when a person dies, the pastor who presides over the funeral 
must be the pastor of that ancestral village.
One may not bring in another pastor from the outside.
The pastor of David’s village is named Thomas Musoke.
After the processional, he said:

Chorus 2:
(quoting Thomas Musoke)
“I was informed of the death of Kato,
But I was not aware of the work he was doing.

Kato is gone.
He cannot repent. 
He cannot change.
The Lord is telling you to change!
Your immorality is too much!
Homosexuality is a curse!
We pray for the complete and total destruction of your group!
And to every believer, to every person that knows God: repent!

You are all cockroaches! 
You should repent!
God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of you!”

Chorus 1:
(quoting John and Kasha)
What is going on? 
This is not acceptable.
We have come here in peace. 
We just want some respect.

You are not the judge of us! 
Not any of you here!
We are not here to fight!
We are here to bury our friend!

We are here to hold this funeral with due respect.

Are they planning to attack us? 
Are they going to kill us?
Where are the police? 
Where is security?

We have gathered here to take our friend to his creator.

Someone has to do something! 
Enough is enough!
Let’s just take him to the grave ourselves! 
Take the casket away! Away! Away...

Christopher:
After the conflict at the funeral,
we carried him away to a distant grave. 
There we buried him in a white casket, 
draped with a rainbow flag,
then I spoke to his family and friends.

“Please do not be discouraged. 
God created you.
God is on your side.

Christopher and full chorus:
Let us pray for the soul of David Kato. 
I have known him.
I have respected him,
and his love for the human race.
This love is the best thing that God has given us.

May God give rest to our brother, David Kato. 
God loves you, Kato.
He knows you.
He brought you into this world, 
and you have done your work. 
So rest in peace.”

All:
Rest in peace...

Christopher: (quoting John)
However much we are in mourning,
we know that David wants us to be happy. 
So let us celebrate this day for David!

Christopher:
Kasha has invited us to “Sappho Island,”
 where we can drink the night away, 
and mend our hearts together.
Aluta continua!

All: (quoting ‘By the rivers of Babylon’ by Boney M [1978], based on Psalm 137:1)
Mm... Ah...
By the rivers of Babylon, 
there we sat down, 
yeah we wept,
when we remembered David.
When the wicked carried us away in captivity,
requiring of us a song.
now how shall we sing the Lord’s song 
in a strange land?

Ah! Could it be true?

David:
People keep on saying 
that we are not here. 
But of late, we are here.

Epilogue 

Chorus: (quoting John Wambere)
Long before the Gospel came to Africa, 
people sat around fires,
and told their own stories.

People worshipped the sun, 
for it gave light and warmth. 
People worshipped the sky, 
for it gave wind and rain.
People worshipped the trees, 
for they gave shelter and shade. 
People worshipped the rivers, 
for they gave water and life.

Long before the Gospel came to Africa, 
people sat around fires,
and told their own stories,
and all of these gifts were a blessing.