The commissioner general of the Uganda Prisons Authority Dr Johnson Byabashaija has reiterated the need for the Government to consider scrapping the death penalty saying it does not serve the purpose of the punishment.

Byabashaija, who boasts of having presented a number of papers, national and internationally says that death penalty, is not a punishment but a punitive measure that promotes the Mosaic law of an eye for an eye.

He proposes that life imprisonment is a much better option for inmates as the period is long enough for behavioural transformation of an individual.

He is however quick to add that the gallows are still operational and that the hangman together with his assistants are fully serviced and paid, awaiting to perform their work in case one is committed.

Byabashaija says that Uganda has not killed any inmate for the last 12 years, an indication that the President is also reluctant to sign death warrants of any convicts.

Commenting on the state of the terror suspects, Byabashaija says that they are remotely protected since they can cause danger at any time with visitors allowed to check on them once in 3 months.