KAMPALA – Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said on Monday he regretted stopping executions in his “pre-industrial” country, just said days after his vow to resume death sentences alarmed rights groups. The last time Museveni signed a death warrant was in 1999 to execute 28 convicts, while execution under military law was last carried out in 2002.
“I saw some NGOs opposing the death sentence. In a pre-industrial society like ours removing death sentence is a recipe for chaos. We believe in the Law of Moses; eye for an eye,” according to his senior press secretary, Don Wanyama, Museveni told the annual judges conference in Kampala.
“I have been making the mistake of not sanctioning these death sentences. I am repenting,” Museveni said.
“As you aspire for international practices, you must be aware that societies like the United Kingdom went through the industrial revolution 200 years ago. Here in Uganda and Africa we are dealing with pre-industrial societies,” Museveni told judges.
During the passing out of prison wardens in Kampala on Friday he said: “Criminals think they have a right to kill people and keep their heads…. I am going to revise a bit and hang a few.” Over 250 convicts are on death row in Uganda according to prisons services spokesperson, Frank Mbaine.
President Museveni, 73, has been in power for three decades and could potentially seek a sixth term in office in 2021 if a bill to remove presidential age limits is passed.
Photo Credits – BBC Youtube
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