House stops MP’s burial as death cause is disputed
MP Cerinah Nebanda’s body lays in Parliament yesterday.
What you need to know:
Controversy. Lawmakers demand the investigation on the cause of Nebanda’s death be redone, citing compromise. They also say the pathologist took samples of the MP’s body parts after a decision with police bosses.
Parliament in an unprecedented move yesterday stopped the burial of Butaleja Woman MP Cerinah Nebanda until the cause of her death is explicitly made known to the MPs and relatives.
The MPs took the decision after learning that police had arrested the pathologist, Dr Sylvestre Onzivua, who Parliament and Ms Nabanda’s family had hired to take the deceased’s samples to South Africa for independent examination.
Dr Onzivua was blocked by security operatives at Entebbe Airport and confiscated the samples.
The MPs said police’s move compromised the investigations and want the process to be redone, but this time.
“We had agreed that in handling the death of our colleague, there should be a process which is not questionable so that the results which come are credible and the intention of having an independent analysis is also a tested principle,” Dr Chris Baryomunsi said.
Although the Deputy Speaker, Mr Jacob Oulanyah had ruled that Nebanda’s body be taken to the Mulago School of Medicine, Cerinah’s mother, who was wailing calling out Gen. Kayihura’s name that he killed her daughter objected, saying she no longer trusted government.
The body was taken back to their home in Entebbe.
Contrary to the police explanation that the pathologist was smuggling Nebanda’s body parts illegally, Mr Baryomunsi told the House that the decision had been agreed on with the police bosses, government pathologists and the independent pathologist obtained the samples during the post-mortem at Mulago hospital in the presence of the government chemists.
“It is tragic for the country and it is a pity because the circumstances are becoming more suspicious?” Gen. Jim Muhwezi said after the House adjourned.
The MPs said they have to know the cause of death before she is buried because she always spoke for truth and called for transparency.
“I am ashamed to belong to this government because the leaders in it are murderers, they kill us,” MP Theodore Ssekikubo told the House.
The House will reconvene on Friday at 10am for the debate.
