Gay activists in three cities gathered on Thursday to mourn the loss of Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato.

Kato was found bludgeoned to death with a hammer in his home near Kampala, the nation's capital.

Kato and his group, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUg), had campaigned against a proposed bill that includes a death penalty provision for people who repeatedly engage in gay sex and those who are HIV-positive. He also challenged a newspaper in court for publishing the personal details of leading gay rights advocates along with the banner, “Hang Them.”

Police have arrested a suspect, who they say has confessed to the murder. According to officials, the suspect did not kill Kato because he was gay.

In the District of Columbia, gay rights group Get Equal protested outside the National Prayer Breakfast, which was attended by President Obama. The group said it was opposed to The Family's sponsorship of the event. The Evangelical group has been linked to Uganda's anti-gay law.

Managing director Heather Cronk told gay publication Metro Weekly that the purpose of the event was to “intercede in the imprisonment or death of more of our Uganda sisters and brothers – and to make it clear that eradicating us, whether in Africa or America, will not be tolerated.” (The video is embedded in the right panel of this page.)

In San Francisco, more than 100 people gathered to hear speakers at the Harvey Milk Plaza, where merchants lowered a giant rainbow flag at half mast in memory of Kato.

A second vigil in New York also remembered Kato's legacy of fighting against homophobia and oppression.

“We're mobilizing to bring attention to the government and people [in America] to homophobia in Africa and Uganda in particular,” Charles Gueboguo told AFP.

The demonstrators delivered a letter to the Ugandan Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, calling for the government to denounce the murder.

They also urged authorities in Uganda to “thoroughly and impartially investigate this heinous crime.”