Ugandan gay rights activist bludgeoned to death

Kampala, Uganda - Uganda A gay activist whose name appeared on the list of countries "gay up" was beaten to death in her home near the capital, his lawyer said Thursday.

A neighbor found David Kato dead and informed the authorities, his lawyer said.

Kato money and clothes were missing after the attack, said John Onyango, his attorney.

It is unclear whether Kato killing was related to his action, gay rights or a front page of a tabloid newspaper in Uganda that has revived the anti-gay end of last year.

The story includes a list of "100 best gay" with their photos, addresses and a banner with the words "Hang Them." Kato's name and photo were on the list.

The arrest warrants were issued two suspects: a taxi driver near the house of the victim and an ex-convict, who had spent time with no response before the killing, "said Onyango.

Kato told CNN last year that he feared for his life after the list was published. His lawyer said he had informed the authorities of the Mukono town, where he lived, his fears.

"The villagers need to set fire to my house," he told CNN at the time. "They want to burn my house ... (They say) 'Can you go too far from my house burns down?"

Authorities in the criminal investigation department Mukono declined to comment pending further investigations.

The activists have labeled the attack and urged the authorities in the East African nation to investigate the murder. They asked the government to protect children from violence, threats and actions, and hostility to them.

"David Kato's death is a tragic loss for the human rights community. David was faced with growing threats to Uganda LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender), people with courage and we will miss him a lot," said Maria Burnett, principal investigator for Africa at Human Rights Watch.

Earlier this year, Kato and the two activists was a case against the magazine that published the list. The Court said that Uganda has banned the media to release data of homosexuals known or potential of the country.

The editor of Rolling Stone, the tabloid that published the list, denounced the attacks and said he sympathized with the family of the victim.

"When we suspended the gay, wanted to ... when I went through the legal process," said Giles Muhame. "I ask them have been killed in cold blood as he did."

The tabloid Rolling Stone is not affiliated with the iconic American music magazine of the same name.

Homosexuality is illegal in most African countries, where sodomy laws were introduced during colonialism.

In Uganda, homosexual sexual acts are punishable by 14 years to life in prison, according to the defenders.