Uganda police probe death of South African national in Kampala hotel

KAMPALA. Police in Uganda are investigating circumstances that led to the death of a South African national in one of the hotels in the capital Kampala.
The body of Johannes Fredrick Steinberg, 64, was found in a bathroom by the staff of Golden Tulip Hotel after receiving a phone call from someone who identified herself as his daughter claiming he was not responding to her calls.

Sources said the staff rushed to the hotel room number 602 on the 6th floor and knocked the door several times but there was no response. It was when they broke into the room that they discovered his body in the bathroom.
“We alerted police about this development and we were all ordered to stay around until detectives arrived. They searched his hotel room for more than an hour and then removed his body,” sources said.
Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, SP Patrick Onyango, said Steinberg’s body was discovered with no visible signs of external injuries but detectives are determined to discover the cause of his death through a postmortem.

His body is at Mulago hospital morgue for autopsy.
“The deceased came in the country on February 26 aboard Kenya airways and checked in the hotel at midday. He was allocated room 602 on 6th floor in good condition but he was found dead in this very hotel room. We are investigating the cause of his death,” SP Onyango said.
Mr Onyango said statements had been taken from the staff to help police with investigations.

Police said no one had been arrested over Steinberg’s death but they were waiting for the postmortem results which will guide investigators on the next course of action.
Last year, six foreigners from Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Finland, German and U.S were found dead in Uganda hotels and apartments. Alex Sebastian, a 41-year-old Swede and Tersvouri Toomajuha Petteri, a 42-year-old Finish were discovered dead on February 6 and February 8, at Sheraton and Pearl of Africa hotels respectively.

Then Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, said drug substances had been found in their bodies.
Two weeks later, police launched an investigation into the death of German and Belgian nationals. Hans Jurgen Vallant, 64, a German died on his way to Nsambya hospital whereas Eric Yvomr, 54, a Belgian was allegedly found hanging on a rope in his girlfriend’s rented apartment in Muyenga, a Kampaa suburb.

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