A CRITIQUE OF THE LAW ON DEATH fE¼~tTY AND ITS IMPLICATIONS. (UGANDA AS THE CASE STUDY

ABSTRACT

This study discusses the death penalty, argument whether it should be abolished or not. The argument for abolition of death penalty overweighs the other for the reservation of it due to the fact that the innocent suffer as victims, the penalty is a violation of right to life, its old law which should be struck off the constitution of Uganda as it has been done by other states. The death penalty can not deter crnne due to the fact that the person 1s dead but it instead creates enmity with the community between the relatives of the killed person and those who instituted the case where he or she was sentenced to death hence creating gap for other crimes.

The death penalty should be abolished and the study discusses many other alternatives including, life imprisonment, imprisonment outside the home country, fines, working for no payment.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................ ii

APPROVAL .................................................................................................................................. iii

DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................... iv

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................... v

TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................. vi

TABLE OF CASES ......................................................................................................................... x

TABLE OF STATUTES .................................................................................................................. .

LIST OF ABBREVIATION ............................................................................................. . .......... xiii

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................ xiv

CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................ 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... !

1.1 DEFINITION OF DEATH PENALTY .................................................................................. 2

1.2 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY .......................................................................................... 3

1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM ......................................................................................... 6

vi

1.4 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY ................................................................................................. 7

1.5 HYPOTHESIS ........................................................................................................................... 7

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY .......................................................................................................... 7

1. 7. SYNOPSIS ............................................................................................................................. 8

1.8 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY .......................................................................................... 8

CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................................... 10

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................................... 10

2.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 10

2.2 OVERVIEW OF THE DEATH PENALTY AND ITS BRUTALITY. ............................ 10

CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................. 16

3.0 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................. 16

3.1 DATACOLLECTION .......................................................................................................... 16

3.1.1 DATA SOURCE ................................................................................................................. 16

3.1.2 PRIMARY DATA. ............................................................................................................. 16

3.1.3. SECONDARY DATA ...................................................................................................... 16

3.2.1 DATA COLLECTION METHOD ................................................................................... 17

3.3.1 DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS ....................................................................... 17

vii

3.3 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY ......................................................................................... 17

CHAPTERFOUR ........................................................................................................................ 18

ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY.IS

4.0 REASONS FOR ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY ............................................... 18

4.1.0. BRUTALITY OF DEATH PENALTY ........................................................................... 19

4.1.1.HANGING OF A PRISONER SO AS TO STOP HIS LIFE ............................. 20

4.1.2. PUBLIC SHOOTING OF A PRISONER [FIRING SQUAD]. ..................... 20

4.1.3. DOUBLE PUNISHMENT ON THE PRISONER ............................................... 21

4.1.4. POOR SANITATION IN UPPER PRISON (CONDEMNED SECTION).

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4.1.2. THE INNOCENT AS A LIKELY VICTIM OF DEATH PENALTY ....... 22

4.1.3. CORRUPTION IN STATE INSTITUTIONS ................................................ 23

4.1.4. LACK OF EVIDENCE [PRIMA-FACIE CASE] .............................................. 24

4.1.5. ABSENCE OF ADEQUATE TIME FOR DEFENCE .................................... 25

4.1.6. INADEQUATE RETRIALS IN UGANDA .................................................... 26

4.1.7. THE RICH CRIMINALS' INFLUENCE ............................................................... 26

4.1.8. VIOLATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS: ........................................................... 2