Kirumira murder suspect seeks medical attention
Abubakar Kalungi (C) at Wakiso Magistrates Court recently
What you need to know:
- Prosecution alleges that Kalungi, a 47 year-old carpenter, and others still at large, on September 8 at about 9pm, assassinated Kirumira and a female friend Resty Mbabazi.
- The case was adjourned to November 14.
Abubaker Kalungi, one of the suspects being prosecuted for the murder of former Buyende District Police Commander Muhammad Kirumira has asked court to compel prison authorities to provide him medical treatment.
Kalungi who appeared for further mention of his case Wednesday morning told the court presided over by Wakiso Chief Magistrate Esther Nakadama Mubiru that he has not received any treatment since he was remanded to Kigo Prison on October 4.
"My lord, I am very sick. I have pain everywhere. In my limbs, my back, my legs and everywhere. I find difficulty in sitting and walking," Kalungi said moments after he was helped by a prison wader to walk into the dock.
Nakadama asked prison warders to clarify whether Kigo Prison had a dispensary and why Kalungi had not been given medical treatment, a right he should enjoy, even under custody. She directed the warders to ensure that Kalungi is given due attention adding that any condition that cannot be handled at Kigo should be referred to Murchison Bay Hospital.
The Uganda Prisons Services spokesperson, Mr Frank Baine said all inmates are always treated whenever they are unwell but added that some suspects feign illness to attract attention.
"We cannot refuse to treat a suspect under our custody. The health officers are always there to attend to them,” Mr Baine said.
Prosecution alleges that Kalungi, a 47 year-old carpenter, and others still at large, on September 8 at about 9pm, assassinated Kirumira and a female friend Resty Mbabazi. Kirumira was killed near his home Bulenga, a suburb of Kampala.
The other suspects facing trial for the murder include a Police Officer Godfrey Ssenono, former operatives of the Flying Squad and nine others who were rounded up in a raid from a suspected terror cell in Namungoona, a Kampala Suburb.
During the operation, another suspect identified as Abdul Kateregga was shot and died on the way to the hospital. Kateregga was a former member of the Allied Democratic Front (ADF) rebel group who was given amnesty after being arrested in 2001 on charges of terrorism, according to government.
The case was adjourned to November 14.
