MEDIA RELEASE

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

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Kampala: 17/7/2017

RESPONSE TO SOCIAL-MEDIA RUMOURS CONCERNING UGANDANS

ON DEATH-ROW IN CHINA

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.

This is to inform the general public that 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.

We are not at liberty to discuss individuals 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. END