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| Uganda court keeps death penalty | Uganda court keeps death penalty |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Uganda's Supreme Court has refused an appeal by more than 400 death row inmates to abolish the death penalty. | Uganda's Supreme Court has refused an appeal by more than 400 death row inmates to abolish the death penalty. |
| But the judges ruled it was unreasonable to keep convicts on death row for more than three years. | But the judges ruled it was unreasonable to keep convicts on death row for more than three years. |
| It means most of the prisoners who brought the case, arguing that hanging was cruel and inhumane, will have their sentences commuted to life in prison. | It means most of the prisoners who brought the case, arguing that hanging was cruel and inhumane, will have their sentences commuted to life in prison. |
| Although the death penalty has not been used since 1999, the court said it acted as a deterrent to murder. | Although the death penalty has not been used since 1999, the court said it acted as a deterrent to murder. |
| But the judges asked parliament to consider another means of execution other than hanging. | |
| "I would agree with the respondents that hanging as a method of execution as it is carried out in Uganda is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment," Justice Egonda-Ntende said. | |
| Weeping | |
| The BBC's Joshua Mmali in the capital, Kampala, says four prisoners were in court for the ruling. | The BBC's Joshua Mmali in the capital, Kampala, says four prisoners were in court for the ruling. |
| Susan Kigula, the woman who led the other prisoners in filing the petition, wept painfully as the actual implications of the ruling dawned on her. | |
| Our reporter says whereas fellow petitioners on death row may escape the death penalty following the ruling, her plight is still unclear. | |
| Her death sentence was only confirmed by an appeal court about a year ago. | |
| It means she could still be hanged within the next two years, unless the president pardons her under the presidential prerogative of mercy. | |
| The appeal by the prisoners on death row was supported by Ugandan human rights groups. | The appeal by the prisoners on death row was supported by Ugandan human rights groups. |