United Kingdom. The University Of York in the United Kingdom, has officially honoured its former student David Kato Kisule, a Ugandan human rights activist who was murdered eleven years ago.
Last year, the University of York revealed its plans to name its newly established college after its student (Kato).
In 2010, Kato joined the university as a Protective Fellow on the Human Rights Defenders Programme at the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR) where he spent six months.
But in 2011, he was murdered by unknown people a few weeks after returning home to Uganda.
Two new colleges were established on the University’s Campus East in Heslington – one honours David Kato, while the other has already been designated in honour of scholar and Yorkshire businesswoman, Anne Lister.
David Kato, a Ugandan who was a former student of the university. David Kato was murdered, and in 2010, he spent six months at the university as a Protective Fellow under the Human Rights Defenders Programme at the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR).
The University Executive Board approved the name selection from a lengthy list of suggestions proposed by students and staff with connections to the university and the city.
According to the University, the rights activists had a significant impact on the rights of LGBT+ people in Uganda.
“As a University of the Sanctuary, we are proud to honour his (Kato) life and legacy by naming our newest college in his memory,” says Professor Charlie Jeffery, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor.
Opened at the east campus of the institution in Heslington, this college is aimed at providing an environment which is a “safe space” for refugees, asylum seekers and other people who have been forced to leave their homes.
The opening of the David Kato College on Campus East was marked by an official event on March 14, featuring a panel discussion with prominent figures – Paul Gready, co-director of the University’s Centre for Applied Human Rights; Karim Shah, an Emmy-award-winning producer of investigative films on human rights abuses; and Fawzia Ehsani, a refugee scholar from Afghanistan and recent York graduate.
The University’s Centre for Applied Human Rights also curated an exhibition which was opened following the panel discussion and formal reception.
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