KAMPALA
Chinese authorities have executed two Ugandans convicted of trafficking narcotics, the Foreign Affairs ministry has announced.
Ministry spokesperson Fred Opolot yesterday identified the convicts as Omar Ddamulira and Ham Andrew Ngobi.
Ddamulira was executed on May 21, 2014 while Ngobi was killed last week (June 24), he said. Their bodies were cremated but we have initiated talks with the Chinese government to return the ashes to their families.
Mr Opolot said the two mens families were allowed to talk to them on phone before they were executed.
By June 2012, Ugandas embassy in China had compiled a list of 23 Ugandans who had been sent on death row in China over drug trafficking while another 22 were serving life in jail over similar offences.
Ugandas Ambassador to China, Mr Charles Wagidoso, said most Ugandans caught in the drugs trade, which is banned in many countries, are mere conduits of bigger players. The diplomat said their investigations showed that most of the mules (people transporting drugs) were paid an average of $5,000 (about Shs12 million) for each mission.
Part of the money, Mr Wagidoso said, is paid before undertaking the assignment while the rest is offered upon successful delivery of the illicit drugs.
Whereas China is known for tough sanctions on drug traffickers, many of the Ugandan suspects have had their death sentences commuted to life in prison or long jail terms on grounds that they are not professionals but victims of tough economic circumstances.
Explaining why then the two Ugandans could have been served the toughest sentence, Mr Opolot said it could have been about how much drugs were found in their possession.
Chinese authorities have executed two Ugandans convicted of trafficking narcotics, the Foreign Affairs ministry has announced.
Ministry spokesperson Fred Opolot yesterday identified the convicts as Omar Ddamulira and Ham Andrew Ngobi.
Ddamulira was executed on May 21, 2014 while Ngobi was killed last week (June 24), he said. Their bodies were cremated but we have initiated talks with the Chinese government to return the ashes to their families.
Mr Opolot said the two mens families were allowed to talk to them on phone before they were executed.
By June 2012, Ugandas embassy in China had compiled a list of 23 Ugandans who had been sent on death row in China over drug trafficking while another 22 were serving life in jail over similar offences.
Ugandas Ambassador to China, Mr Charles Wagidoso, said most Ugandans caught in the drugs trade, which is banned in many countries, are mere conduits of bigger players. The diplomat said their investigations showed that most of the mules (people transporting drugs) were paid an average of $5,000 (about Shs12 million) for each mission.
Part of the money, Mr Wagidoso said, is paid before undertaking the assignment while the rest is offered upon successful delivery of the illicit drugs.
Whereas China is known for tough sanctions on drug traffickers, many of the Ugandan suspects have had their death sentences commuted to life in prison or long jail terms on grounds that they are not professionals but victims of tough economic circumstances.
Explaining why then the two Ugandans could have been served the toughest sentence, Mr Opolot said it could have been about how much drugs were found in their possession.
