A former delegate of an International AIDS Conference that brought 24,000 people to Toronto has had his refugee claim tossed out and now faces deportation to Uganda.

Samuel Kyambadde, 37, was among 150 delegates of African countries who attended the high-profile August 2006 conference that attracted such speakers as former U.S. president Bill Clinton and Microsoft head Bill Gates.

Kyambadde filed a failed refugee claim four days after arriving in Toronto, saying he would face persecution in Uganda because of his homosexuality, which he claims he's kept secret so far.

LACKED CREDIBILITY

His claim was thrown out by an immigration and refugee board and that decision was appealed to the Federal Court of Canada, who this month ruled that Kyambadde lacked credibility and rejected the case.

That refusal can still be taken to a Federal Court of Appeal.

"The applicant submits that as a gay activist, he will be at risk if returned to Uganda," Mr. Justice Russel Zinn said.

The case was thrown out despite letters presented in court by Kyambadde stating he was a volunteer with Pride Uganda Toronto, 519 Church Street Community Centre and the AIDS Committee of Toronto.

"The applicant is described as a community-minded individual who assists in the betterment of the community as a whole," Zinn said, adding the board made no error in its ruling.

More than 150 delegates from 50 countries claimed refugee status during the six-day conference. Nearly all were HIV-positive.

Many of those who filed refugee claims have been successful, an official said.

No date has been set for Kyambadde's removal from Canada.