Foreign affairs ministry dismisses social media reports of 23 Ugandans on death row in China

By Watchdog reporter

The ministry of foreign affairs has dismissed claims of social media that 23 Ugandans were on death row in china on a number of crimes including drug trafficking.

In a media statement dated 17/7/2017 titled “Response to social-media rumours concerning Ugandans on death-row in China” MoFA issued a statement rubbishing the anonymous reports as untrue.

The statement shared by Mrs Margaret A. Kafeero, head of Public Diplomacy at the ministry said the content of the social media rumour was “false” warning the public over circulating malicious but sensitive information.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has noted, with concern, an anonymous Social Media announcement indicating the names of 23 Ugandan prisoners in China, allegedly set to hang over drug trafficking offences,” said the statement.
The ministry clarified that government of Uganda had made several interventions leading to reduction of sentences from death row to fixed term.

Foreign affairs says, “The list that is in circulation is one of Ugandans who were sentenced to death a number of years ago but were granted a 2-year reprieve by the Chinese Courts, which was later reduced from death, to life imprisonment and further to a fixed term.”

The ministry asked for restrain from Ugandans as the government negotiates with China on a number of Ugandans in Chinese prisons.

“We are not at liberty to discuss individual’s circumstances either in the media or in the public domain but would like to emphasize that it is our understanding that the Chinese Government has not scheduled executions of any Ugandan prisoners at this time. The two Governments continue to carry out bilateral discussions on various pending cases.

The information that is circulating regarding the alleged executions is therefore false and we request that out of respect for each other, as well as for the families of those concerned, individuals should exercise restraint and sensitivity when making the decision to circulate unsubstantiated information.”