A Ugandan court sentenced a man to 30 years in jail for the murder of a leading gay rights activist, even as a controversial anti-gay bill was again brought before Uganda's parliament.

Enoch Nsubuga, 22, admitted beating prominent campaigner David Kato, 46, to death with a hammer at his home outside Kampala in January, but claimed that he had been reacting to unwanted demands for sex.

Kato's twin brother John Mulumba Wasswa said he welcomed the sentence and was convinced that Nsubuga was guilty of his brother's murder. "It was obvious that he was responsible. I did not expect anything else to happen," Wasswa said.

Kato's killing drew worldwide condemnation, coming after a newspaper in Kampala had published a picture of Kato alongside a headline demanding that homosexuals be hanged.

Violation of confidentiality
A controversial bill that calls for the death penalty for certain homosexual acts was recently re-introduced in the Ugandan parliament.

Homosexuality is already illegal in the east African country and in some circumstances punishable by long jail terms, but the proposed legislation envisions stiffer punishments.

It essentially requires anyone who knows of or has heard of any homosexual activity to report it to the police within 24 hours. Human rights activists say that clause would violate the confidentiality required of doctors, priests and counsellors.

Death penalty for gays
It also proposes to criminalise public discussion of homosexuality and it brings in the death penalty for anyone caught engaging in homosexual acts.

Originally tabled in 2009, the anti-gay bill has drawn international condemnation.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said recently that Britain would consider withholding aid to countries that do not recognise gay rights. Britain is one of the biggest donors to Uganda.

Source: AFP