The college was named after the Ugandan teacher and LGBT rights activist David Kato, who is considered a father of Uganda's gay rights movement,[2] and who had studied at York shortly before his murder in 2011.

[5] The 2024 CSA executive committee are Part of a 400,000 sqf addition to Campus East consisting of 1,480 beds and costing £130 million, David Kato College along with Anne Lister College form a new student accommodation centre.

While the rooms are classed as self-catered, like other Campus East colleges students can attend the weekly college meal held in the Piazza Building, which is included with rent.

The scroll has the phrase 'A luta continua', which translates as 'the struggle continues'.

It has connections to David Kato from its use by his supporters at his funeral, but is not the motto of the college.