How effective and relevant is the death sentence?
Jun 24, 2010
EDITOR—In a country with chronic and pervasive violation of human rights by non-state agencies and individuals, it remains paradoxical whether we still need a death penalty.
EDITOR—In a country with chronic and pervasive violation of human rights by non-state agencies and individuals, it remains paradoxical whether we still need a death penalty.
The international community, particularly the European Union, has always been at the forefront of persuading Uganda to repeal the death penalty. Bravo to NGOs like Foundation for Human Rights Initiative which have programmes against the death penalty. Arguing against capital punishment, Amnesty International believes that the death penalty is “the ultimate denial of human rights. It is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state in the name of justice. It violates the right to life, the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.
There can never be any justification for torture or for cruel treatmentâ€.
The recent abduction and killing of a child in Bugolobi and many cases in the press make one ponder whether we need a death penalty or not. In a human rights perspective, the victims need a practical and effective remedy. What remedy is equivalent to a biological child?
The ability and effectiveness of the state in providing a remedy to such victims who have lost their dear ones brings into the limelight on how best such cases should be handled. A parochial analysis of the death penalty considering what is happening in our country apparently, might give it tapered, conical interpretation and approach.
Before repealing such laws it is imperative to analyse the social, economic and political discourses and how best the state will grapple with such kind of cases. In essence, the fact that the death penalty is in place and has not deterred the public from committing atrocious crimes, after its repeal, what will happen? Do we need a behavioural change study before we enact such laws?
Life is sacred but we need punishments which can deter our communities from committing such crimes which at the same time do not amount to inhuman and degrading treatment, to me which sound ironical.
However, the state remains with the principal mandate of respecting, promoting and protecting the rights of all people within its jurisdiction.
Robert Kakuru
Makerere
The international community, particularly the European Union, has always been at the forefront of persuading Uganda to repeal the death penalty. Bravo to NGOs like Foundation for Human Rights Initiative which have programmes against the death penalty. Arguing against capital punishment, Amnesty International believes that the death penalty is “the ultimate denial of human rights. It is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state in the name of justice. It violates the right to life, the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.
There can never be any justification for torture or for cruel treatmentâ€.
The recent abduction and killing of a child in Bugolobi and many cases in the press make one ponder whether we need a death penalty or not. In a human rights perspective, the victims need a practical and effective remedy. What remedy is equivalent to a biological child?
The ability and effectiveness of the state in providing a remedy to such victims who have lost their dear ones brings into the limelight on how best such cases should be handled. A parochial analysis of the death penalty considering what is happening in our country apparently, might give it tapered, conical interpretation and approach.
Before repealing such laws it is imperative to analyse the social, economic and political discourses and how best the state will grapple with such kind of cases. In essence, the fact that the death penalty is in place and has not deterred the public from committing atrocious crimes, after its repeal, what will happen? Do we need a behavioural change study before we enact such laws?
Life is sacred but we need punishments which can deter our communities from committing such crimes which at the same time do not amount to inhuman and degrading treatment, to me which sound ironical.
However, the state remains with the principal mandate of respecting, promoting and protecting the rights of all people within its jurisdiction.
Robert Kakuru
Makerere