Activists renew calls for abolishment of death penalty

Civil Society Organizations advocating for the removal of the death penalty worldwide are to mark the 14th year of their campaign geared at compelling countries to abolish the death sentence. 

Worldwide, a total of 155 countries have abolished the sentence whereas in Africa only 19 countries have abolished the punishment though 6 countries have not carried out a single execution for the last 10 years, Uganda inclusive.

The Foundation for Human Rights Initiative's campaign head Lucy Peace Nantume said countries which are still having the death penalty in their constitution should urgently remove it because the death penalty shall never be a deterrent to criminal offenses because the convict is not given an opportunity to reform. 

"We believe that the death penalty violates human rights. It is cruel, inhuman and degrading" Nantume said.

"The way we do it in Uganda is by hanging which is inhuman. We believe that the reason of punishing an offender is reformation. Our prisons service is to be a corrections facility and not a murder institution" she added.

Uganda Prisons spokesperson Frank Baine said currently they have a total of 199 inmates on death row; however they last carried out an execution in 1999 which has now rendered the penalty unnecessary.

"It does not stop crime because more crimes are being committed. Although in the laws of Uganda it is still there and it's a constitutional matter" Baine said.

Judiciary spokesperson Erias Kisawuzi says although death penalty is still constitutional but the Supreme Court advised Judges to sentence all the convicts for longer periods like 30 years.

"As far as the death penalty is concerned, it is allowed under the law and we have seen developments since the case of Susan Kigula" Kisawuzi said.

The day is held every October 10th