Foreign Affairs says ‘list of 23’ not on death-row in China

Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed as false a story reportedly circulating on social media of 23 Ugandan prisoners said to be on death row over drug trafficking offences.

According to a statement released Monday, the ministry said the list of 23 is actually of those who were previously sentenced to death, but were granted a reprive,  later reduced to life imprisonment and then now to a fixed term.

The ministry did not share the list of 23.

Uganda in talks with China

State Minister of Foreign Affairs Henry Okello Oryem has meanwhile said talks are on with China for a long term solution about Ugandans held in Beijing. Uganda, he revealed, is pushing for the prisoners to serve their terms in Kampala.

“We have asked the Chinese to allow all our nationals they are holding for various crimes, to serve their punishments in Uganda,” Oryem told KFM radio on Monday.

He however said the Chinese have complained that the Ugandan laws against crimes like drug trafficking are very lenient, and they will only listen to the request was changes are made locally.

Oryem condemned the drug culture, but said it is a worldwide problem.

Over 100 Ugandans are reportedly on death-row in China, mainly for drug trafficking.

THE STATEMENT

Media Release – No Ugandans to Hang in China by The Independent Magazine on Scribd