We’re Keeping the Green Mile

The Supreme Court in Uganda has upheld the death penalty.

 

The ruling made by the court today rejects an appeal by 417 death row inmates that sought the abolition of the death penalty on the grounds that it is unusually cruel, degrading and inhuman.  It upholds a 2005 decision of Uganda’s Constitutional Court maintaining punishment by death and death by hanging as legal.

 

The Supreme Court however ruled as unconstitutional keeping convicts on death row for more than three years.  It said sentences for any prisoners held on death row for more than three years should be reduced to life imprisonment.  More than 80 percent of the convicts on death row will benefit from this ruling.

 

Of the seven judges who heard the death penalty case, there was only one dissenting voice.  Jusice Engonda Ntede said the death penalty and death by hanging were degrading, inhuman and inconsistent with the Constitution of Uganda and the Universal Declaration of Human rights.

Tupa Mbao

Some people have real ambitions. 

To win the Nobel Prize, to cure cancer, to solve the Palestinian question, to end world hunger, to write the story that trumps all stories, to be the first president of the moon … One guy, inspired by the theme tune from Bob the Builder, is now the first black president of the USA.  Can we fix it?  Yes, we can!

 

Me, I just want to grow beautiful flowers.  Behold: my first grown-from-seed hydrangeas. 

Now the loam! Now the glory!

 

My beautiful, intelligent, warm, loving, extremely talented sister, Gloria turns 36 today.  Happy birthday, dear.

 

At Discovering Toronto Gloria blogs about the experience of a native of Kambuga-Kampala-Kansas in a Canadian city.  Visit her blog, will you?