In conjunction with Wells of Hope Ministries, children of prisoners on death row commemorated World Day Against the Death Penalty in Semuto Nakaseke district. The event shed light on the often-overlooked hardships faced by these children.
When parents are sentenced to death and imprisoned, their children experience a range of distressing emotions, including anxiety, guilt, and resentment. They also endure the loss of access to basic services, such as education.
This important issue was discussed as Uganda participated in the global observance of World Day Against the Death Penalty under the theme: “Death Penalty: An Irreversible Torture.”
Several children shared their personal stories during the event. For example, Brian Ariho’s father was arrested and sentenced to death when Brian was just five years old. He was left in the care of an aunt struggling to provide for her own children. Despite facing numerous challenges, Brian is now 22 and attending Hope High School in Nakaseke district, thanks to support from Wells of Hope Ministries.
Joan Nankya’s story is similar. Her parents were also arrested and sentenced to death when she was five. She experienced discrimination and stigma from her community, with some even refusing to let their children play with her. Wells of Hope Ministries intervened in 2013, providing her with education and facilitating visits to her imprisoned mother.
Currently, Uganda has 127 inmates on death row, with two of them being women. While the number has decreased compared to previous years, Uganda still retains the death penalty for 28 different crimes, the highest number in the region. The last execution took place in 1999, but the punishment remains in the country’s legal framework.
Civil society organizations are calling on the government to establish a special fund to support the basic needs and services of these children. Wells of Hope Ministries founder, Francis Suubi, emphasized that children of incarcerated parents are at risk of dropping out of school, facing violence, and enduring social stigmatization.
Suubi urged the government to ensure that these children have access to education, food, clothing, guardians, and shelter, as well as protection within their communities. He stressed the importance of recognizing where the children are when a parent is arrested and sentenced.
Access to parents in prison is another challenge. While visitation is allowed, some families are unaware of this option. Suubi also pointed out that some inmates are held in facilities far from their homes, making visits difficult.
Children who visit parents in prison should be allowed physical contact for proper parenting. Additionally, Suubi called for regular updates on parents’ whereabouts to reduce emotional distress.
The children of prisoners on death row, represented by their club ‘Children Against Death Penalty,’ called for the abolition of the death penalty, labeling it as primitive and a violation of the right to life. While Uganda has not executed anyone since 1999, these children believe that their parents on death row are not safe until the death penalty is removed from the constitution.
Samantha Connie Nambi, Vice President for the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, called on the government to support legislative efforts to abolish the death penalty and repeal all laws that allow for capital punishment. She praised the children for their advocacy efforts, emphasizing their unique perspective on the dangers posed by the death penalty to society.
