A Conservative member of the European Parliament has suggested that African countries should respect gay rights as a condition for financial aid.

Charles Tannock MEP, a representative for the London constituency, raised the issue in the European Parliament in response to the death of Ugandan LGBT campaigner David Kato. He argued that the activist’s death was caused by homophobic prejudice actively promoted by Ugandan government.

“It is inevitable that in a climate of such bigotry the lives of gay rights activists would be endangered, and so it has sadly proved to be the case with David Kato,” said Tannock. “I am sure that many of my London constituents are deeply concerned about the European Union giving financial aid to a country where such disgusting sentiments are not only tolerated but sometimes apparently officially condoned.”

In light of this, Tannock proposed that, “the EU’s continuing engagement and financial aid to African countries must be reciprocated with progress on fundamental human rights on that continent”.

Gay relationships are illegal in Uganda. Progress on a bill that would mandate the execution of those convicted of same-sex relations stalled last year following an international outcry, but the legislation has not been scrapped.