Rolling Stone (Uganda)
Encyclopedia
Rolling Stone was a weekly tabloid newspaper published in Kampala
, Uganda
. The paper published its first issue on August 23, 2010, under the direction of 22-year-old Giles Muhame and two classmates from Kampala's Makerere University
. According to Muhame, the paper's title was derived from the local word enkurungu: "It's a metaphor for something that strikes with lightning speed, that can kill someone if it is thrown at them". It suspended publication in November 2010, after the High Court ruled that it had violated the fundamental rights of LGBT Ugandans by attempting to out
them and calling for their deaths. The paper was small, with a circulation of approximately 2000 copies.
The paper is unaffiliated with the American magazine Rolling Stone
, which later described the paper's actions as "horrific" and protested its choice of name.
" Ugandan children. This publication attracted international attention and criticism from human rights
organizations, such as Amnesty International
, No Peace Without Justice
and the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association
. According to gay rights activists, many Ugandans have been attacked since the publication as a result of their real or perceived sexual orientation. One woman was reportedly almost killed when her neighbors began to stone her house.
In a subsequent issue, Rolling Stone alleged a connection between Somali
terrorist group al-Shabaab and Ugandan homosexuals under the headline "Homo Generals Plotted Kampala Terror Attacks", charging "a gay lobby" with complicity in the July 2010 Kampala suicide bombings
.
s plus court costs to each of the plaintiffs. The ruling followed a petition from Sexual Minorities Uganda
, a gay rights organization. The ruling said that these lists, and the accompanying incitation to violence, threatened the subjects' "fundamental rights and freedoms", attacked their right to human dignity, and violated their constitutional right to privacy.
Immediately following the verdict, Muhame told reporters that "the war against gays will and must continue. We have to protect our children from this dirty homosexual affront". In January 2011, he announced the paper's intention to appeal the decision. He said that the paper was also gathering signatures of support from Ugandans.
The unrelated U.S. magazine, Rolling Stone
, called the newspaper's actions "horrific" and stated that Rolling Stone magazine has "demanded they [the Ugandan newspaper] cease using our name as a title". However, the magazine's legal options may be limited as, according to Jann Wenner
, the U.S.-based Rolling Stone never "copyright
ed" the name in Uganda.
leader David Kato, one of the activists outed in the article and a co-plaintiff in the lawsuit, was murdered in his home by assailant who struck him twice in the head with a hammer. Rolling Stone,. New York Times
and other news sources suggested that the murder was linked to Kato's high-profile outing, and Human Rights Watch
and Amnesty International
both called for an investigation into the case and protection for other gay activists.
Muhame condemned the murder and expressed his sympathies for Kato's family, but added that he believed that the paper was not responsible and that the murder was a simple robbery: "I have no regrets about the story. We were just exposing people who were doing wrong". To the Ugandan newspaper Daily Monitor, Muhame stated that Kato "brought death upon himself. He hasn’t lived carefully. Kato was a shame to this country". To CNN
, he said, "When we called for hanging of gay people, we meant ... after they have gone through the legal process ... I did not call for them to be killed in cold blood like he was".
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. The paper published its first issue on August 23, 2010, under the direction of 22-year-old Giles Muhame and two classmates from Kampala's Makerere University
Makerere University
Makerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
. According to Muhame, the paper's title was derived from the local word enkurungu: "It's a metaphor for something that strikes with lightning speed, that can kill someone if it is thrown at them". It suspended publication in November 2010, after the High Court ruled that it had violated the fundamental rights of LGBT Ugandans by attempting to out
Outing
Outing is the act of disclosing a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person's true sexual orientation or gender identity without that person's consent. Outing gives rise to issues of privacy, choice, hypocrisy, and harm in addition to sparking debate on what constitutes common good in efforts...
them and calling for their deaths. The paper was small, with a circulation of approximately 2000 copies.
The paper is unaffiliated with the American magazine Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, which later described the paper's actions as "horrific" and protested its choice of name.
Reporting on homosexuality
On October 9, 2010, the newspaper published a front page article—titled "100 Pictures of Uganda's Top Homos Leak"—that listed the names, addresses, and photographs of 100 homosexuals alongside a yellow banner that read "Hang Them". The paper also alleged that homosexuals aimed to "recruitHomosexual recruitment
Homosexual recruitment is a term used, primarily in the U.S., to describe alleged attempts by homosexuals to actively "recruit" otherwise heterosexual youths into the 'gay lifestyle'. Allegations of gay recruitment are sometimes leveled at efforts by gay activists to encourage homosexuals to "come...
" Ugandan children. This publication attracted international attention and criticism from human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
organizations, such as Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, No Peace Without Justice
No Peace Without Justice
No Peace Without Justice or Non C'è Pace Senza Giustizia is an Italian non-profit organization, founded in 1993 by Emma Bonino, an Italian politician, former Member of the European Parliament and current Member of the Italian Senate...
and the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association is an international organization bringing together more than 750 LGBTI groups from around the world. It continues to be active in campaigning for LGBT rights on the international human rights and civil rights scene and...
. According to gay rights activists, many Ugandans have been attacked since the publication as a result of their real or perceived sexual orientation. One woman was reportedly almost killed when her neighbors began to stone her house.
In a subsequent issue, Rolling Stone alleged a connection between Somali
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
terrorist group al-Shabaab and Ugandan homosexuals under the headline "Homo Generals Plotted Kampala Terror Attacks", charging "a gay lobby" with complicity in the July 2010 Kampala suicide bombings
July 2010 Kampala attacks
The July 2010 Kampala attacks were suicide bombings carried out against crowds watching a screening of 2010 FIFA World Cup Final match during the World Cup at two locations in Kampala, Uganda, on , 2010. The attacks left 74 dead and 70 injured...
.
Court case
On November 2, 2010, following a second published edition listing alleged homosexuals, the Ugandan High Court ordered the newspaper to stop publishing the identities of Ugandan gay people, shut down, and pay 1.5 million Ugandan shillingUgandan shilling
The Shilling is the currency of Uganda. Technically, the shilling is subdivided into 100 cents but no subdivisions have been issued since the revaluation of the shilling in 1987.-History:...
s plus court costs to each of the plaintiffs. The ruling followed a petition from Sexual Minorities Uganda
Sexual Minorities Uganda
Sexual Minorities Uganda is an umbrella non-governmental organization based in Kampala, Uganda. Headed by Executive Director Frank Mugisha and Chairperson and founder Victor Mukasa and formerly co-headed by Advocacy Officer David Kato , it pushes for the protection and human rights of lesbian,...
, a gay rights organization. The ruling said that these lists, and the accompanying incitation to violence, threatened the subjects' "fundamental rights and freedoms", attacked their right to human dignity, and violated their constitutional right to privacy.
Immediately following the verdict, Muhame told reporters that "the war against gays will and must continue. We have to protect our children from this dirty homosexual affront". In January 2011, he announced the paper's intention to appeal the decision. He said that the paper was also gathering signatures of support from Ugandans.
The unrelated U.S. magazine, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, called the newspaper's actions "horrific" and stated that Rolling Stone magazine has "demanded they [the Ugandan newspaper] cease using our name as a title". However, the magazine's legal options may be limited as, according to Jann Wenner
Jann Wenner
Jann Simon Wenner is the co-founder and publisher of the music and politics biweekly Rolling Stone, as well as the owner of Men's Journal and Us Weekly magazines.-Childhood:...
, the U.S.-based Rolling Stone never "copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
ed" the name in Uganda.
Kato murder
Sexual Minorities UgandaSexual Minorities Uganda
Sexual Minorities Uganda is an umbrella non-governmental organization based in Kampala, Uganda. Headed by Executive Director Frank Mugisha and Chairperson and founder Victor Mukasa and formerly co-headed by Advocacy Officer David Kato , it pushes for the protection and human rights of lesbian,...
leader David Kato, one of the activists outed in the article and a co-plaintiff in the lawsuit, was murdered in his home by assailant who struck him twice in the head with a hammer. Rolling Stone,. New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and other news sources suggested that the murder was linked to Kato's high-profile outing, and Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
and Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
both called for an investigation into the case and protection for other gay activists.
Muhame condemned the murder and expressed his sympathies for Kato's family, but added that he believed that the paper was not responsible and that the murder was a simple robbery: "I have no regrets about the story. We were just exposing people who were doing wrong". To the Ugandan newspaper Daily Monitor, Muhame stated that Kato "brought death upon himself. He hasn’t lived carefully. Kato was a shame to this country". To CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, he said, "When we called for hanging of gay people, we meant ... after they have gone through the legal process ... I did not call for them to be killed in cold blood like he was".