Ugandans speak out on Saddam hanging
Jan 03, 2007
FORMER Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was hanged on December 30, 2006 for crimes against humanity and murder. <b>Arthur Baguma</b> sounded out a cross section of Ugandans on the death of Saddam.
FORMER Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was hanged on December 30, 2006 for crimes against humanity and murder. Arthur Baguma sounded out a cross section of Ugandans on the death of Saddam.
Sam Musoke, 42, driver:
He was killed in a crude manner. They could have used a less painful method, like lethal injection. The whole process of his execution was grainy and gave a bad picture about the human race. He was killed like an animal. Much as he deserved to die, there was no justification for hanging him. Muslims were sacrificing animals to celebrate, only to be met by grainy pictures of Saddam.
Betty Amoit, 50, a market vendor in Kireka:
When you are on earth you can’t be perfect. You do good things and bad ones. You can’t be a saint. The way Saddam died is regrettable. Let’s leave the rest for God to decide. The only problem I had with Saddam was that he never apologised to Iraqis for crimes committed by his government.
Granted, Saddam killed innocent people, but doesn’t religion tell us to forgive. It is God who knows what he would have done to him. They should have imprisoned him for life. How innocent are those who loathed for his killing. Saddam was a ruthless dictator, but the rush to kill him showed the world that perhaps his killers were hiding something.
Jackson Asiimwe, 32, a bodaboda cyclist:It was like mob justice, lynching. It was not a fair trial. If it had been, we would have heard all about the past dealings Saddam had with America. Saddam had a lot to tell that this world probably will never get to know. Life imprisonment should have served the purpose. More people are going to die in Iraq. Those who viewed Saddam Hussein as a hero are going to revenge.
Kyera Musisi, 26, self-employed:
Saddam deserved to die but not by strangling him on a holy day. His executors tormented him and sang sectarian slogans against his tribe. There was no justice in the hanging. It was just a fulfillment of orders by those who had personal scores to settle.
Richard Tuwangye, 26, Public Relations Officer of Theatre Factory:
Saddam paid the price for his deeds. He reaped what he sowed. I think the problem was killing him on Idd day. Was this intended to get on the nerves of Muslims? The timing of the execution is going to escalate violence in Iraq and among radical Moslems around the world.
Mariam Ndagire, musician:
It was disgusting! Can you imagine waking up to celebrate Idd, only to be met by hair-raising images of Saddam being telecast on television? It was a bad day for Muslims. An eye for an eye wasn’t the best option. No one is perfect. No leader is purely clean, even his killers.
Said Mubarak, Mayor Lugazi Town Council:
The manner in which Saddam was killed was inhuman. But it has happened and we can’t do anything about it. Everyone has to die. Death is the final destination for all of us. The timing of his execution showed that there is discrimination against the Muslims, otherwise how would you explain the rush to execute him on Idd day? A day supposed to be marked with love and forgiveness.
Magie Ndagire, Student Makerere University:
Whoever executed Saddam did it out of selfish interests. Even the American occupation of Iraq is in the interest of Americans, not Iraqis. One could argue that the crude end of Saddam was meant to scare terrorists and other dictators, but it is likely to intensify anti-America sentiments across the world. Any head of state can face what Saddam went through. I believe Saddam plunged his country into an abyss but in the spirit of unity and reconciliation, his killing shouldn’t have been done in the manner meant to divide the world.
Angella Kalule, musician:
I believe there were other ways they could have made him pay for his sins. I resented the man Saddam from what I gathered about his leadership, but this didn’t call for his hanging.
Salim Uhuru, Proprietor Uhuru Restaurant:
The man’s execution spoilt my day. I closed the restaurant and stayed home. When I saw a rope around his neck, I freaked out. They should instead have sentenced him to life imprisonment. I think that kind of punishment where ropes are used should be abolished totally.
Amiir Daula, head of Muslim youth Tabliqs:
Saddam’s death hurt us. He was a Muslim and our brother. Those who killed him have hatred for Muslims because they killed him on a Muslim holy day. We pray that God judges him fairly. I don’t think his killers had the moral authority to hang him. Images of executioners partying like there is no tomorrow just sickened me as much as Bush claiming that Saddam got a fair trial.
Sam Musoke, 42, driver:
He was killed in a crude manner. They could have used a less painful method, like lethal injection. The whole process of his execution was grainy and gave a bad picture about the human race. He was killed like an animal. Much as he deserved to die, there was no justification for hanging him. Muslims were sacrificing animals to celebrate, only to be met by grainy pictures of Saddam.
Betty Amoit, 50, a market vendor in Kireka:
When you are on earth you can’t be perfect. You do good things and bad ones. You can’t be a saint. The way Saddam died is regrettable. Let’s leave the rest for God to decide. The only problem I had with Saddam was that he never apologised to Iraqis for crimes committed by his government.
Granted, Saddam killed innocent people, but doesn’t religion tell us to forgive. It is God who knows what he would have done to him. They should have imprisoned him for life. How innocent are those who loathed for his killing. Saddam was a ruthless dictator, but the rush to kill him showed the world that perhaps his killers were hiding something.
Jackson Asiimwe, 32, a bodaboda cyclist:It was like mob justice, lynching. It was not a fair trial. If it had been, we would have heard all about the past dealings Saddam had with America. Saddam had a lot to tell that this world probably will never get to know. Life imprisonment should have served the purpose. More people are going to die in Iraq. Those who viewed Saddam Hussein as a hero are going to revenge.
Kyera Musisi, 26, self-employed:
Saddam deserved to die but not by strangling him on a holy day. His executors tormented him and sang sectarian slogans against his tribe. There was no justice in the hanging. It was just a fulfillment of orders by those who had personal scores to settle.
Richard Tuwangye, 26, Public Relations Officer of Theatre Factory:
Saddam paid the price for his deeds. He reaped what he sowed. I think the problem was killing him on Idd day. Was this intended to get on the nerves of Muslims? The timing of the execution is going to escalate violence in Iraq and among radical Moslems around the world.
Mariam Ndagire, musician:
It was disgusting! Can you imagine waking up to celebrate Idd, only to be met by hair-raising images of Saddam being telecast on television? It was a bad day for Muslims. An eye for an eye wasn’t the best option. No one is perfect. No leader is purely clean, even his killers.
Said Mubarak, Mayor Lugazi Town Council:
The manner in which Saddam was killed was inhuman. But it has happened and we can’t do anything about it. Everyone has to die. Death is the final destination for all of us. The timing of his execution showed that there is discrimination against the Muslims, otherwise how would you explain the rush to execute him on Idd day? A day supposed to be marked with love and forgiveness.
Magie Ndagire, Student Makerere University:
Whoever executed Saddam did it out of selfish interests. Even the American occupation of Iraq is in the interest of Americans, not Iraqis. One could argue that the crude end of Saddam was meant to scare terrorists and other dictators, but it is likely to intensify anti-America sentiments across the world. Any head of state can face what Saddam went through. I believe Saddam plunged his country into an abyss but in the spirit of unity and reconciliation, his killing shouldn’t have been done in the manner meant to divide the world.
Angella Kalule, musician:
I believe there were other ways they could have made him pay for his sins. I resented the man Saddam from what I gathered about his leadership, but this didn’t call for his hanging.
Salim Uhuru, Proprietor Uhuru Restaurant:
The man’s execution spoilt my day. I closed the restaurant and stayed home. When I saw a rope around his neck, I freaked out. They should instead have sentenced him to life imprisonment. I think that kind of punishment where ropes are used should be abolished totally.
Amiir Daula, head of Muslim youth Tabliqs:
Saddam’s death hurt us. He was a Muslim and our brother. Those who killed him have hatred for Muslims because they killed him on a Muslim holy day. We pray that God judges him fairly. I don’t think his killers had the moral authority to hang him. Images of executioners partying like there is no tomorrow just sickened me as much as Bush claiming that Saddam got a fair trial.