KAMPALA, UGANDA: Police has summoned a number of individuals among whom include the late Jacob Oulanyah’s father Mr. Nathan Okori, and National Unity Platform (NUP) party president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine over allegations that former speaker of parliament, Jacob Oulanyah was poisoned.
Others on the summon list include the Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, NRM Vice-chairman for Buganda Region, Mr. Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, Dokolo South MP Felix Okot Ogong, Kilak South MP Gilbert Olanya, Northern Uganda based musician Bosmic Otim, bloggers among others.
Speaking to Journalists on Monday morning, Police Spokesperson CP Fred Enanga said that a file of offensive communication is being prepared at CID headquarters in Kibuli, Kampala.
“From the medical records we have obtained, there was no presence of poison in his (Oulanyah’s) blood system. We want them to provide us with a chain of evidence regarding the poisoning as they allege. The file of offensive communication is ongoing at CID headquarters in Kibuli,” said Enanga.
“We are therefore summoning all those persons with other causes of death including poisoning for further interview and statement recording. These will include Hon. Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi who also mentioned Hon.Chris Baryomunsi, Hon. Gilbert Olanya, Hon. Santa Okot, Hon Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert, mzee Nathan Okori and Bosmic Otim,” he added.
Oulanyah Poison Claims
During Oulanyah’s burial last Friday, Mr. Okori reiterated his earlier statement saying his son told him he was poisoned before his death:
“Jacob Oulanyah was poisoned. He told me. And he was operated on, doctors attempted to deal with the poison. The poison affected his health so badly…he was not in a position to recover. He was too weak.”
He had also requested Chief Justice to rein in on a “certain lady who is medalling in Oulanyah’s company and private property,” Okori told mourners last week.
In a special parliamentary sitting last week, Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng presented a postmortem report saying Oulanyah’s death was caused by multiple organ failure from a cancer disease.
Just like Oulanyah’s father, ex-minister Kiwanda told journalists at the weekend: “In 2021 when he was too sick, he called me home and I asked ‘what is the problem, Jacob? What is going on?’ He said, ‘I think I was poisoned.’
“He invited me to his home and I found him in bed. He was very ill. He told me, Godfrey I was poisoned but don’t tell anybody. He told me it was around that time when I had just won the speakership. I said ‘But from where?’ and he said ‘I don’t know.’ But he told me ‘don’t tell anyone.’ I said ‘if you are sick, why don’t we share it so that you get medical attention?” Of course, I couldn’t keep quiet so I shared with some people. This allegation [of poisoning] was from him [Oulanyha]. It didn’t originate from the father because he even told it to me,” Mr. Kiwanda said last weekend.
The NUP leader, Kyagulanyi who also on Sunday (yesterday) went to commiserate with the bereaved family called on the government to expedite investigations into the alleged poisoning of former Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah.
“I went there to pay tribute to the late Jacob but also condole with the family. I did not want to sound insensitive to him but his message of poisoning his son has been loud and clear, so we ask that let the investigations be done faster,” Bobi Wine said yesterday.
According to Enanga, the individuals targeted with summons will have to furnish police with evidence to prove their poison claims, contrary to official medical reports.
“In any allegation of death by poison, identification of poisonous samples in the body is crucial. According to the medical report, there was no trace of any poisonous samples in the body. Therefore, any other cause of death beyond the medical reports will be treated as a dangerous speculation that must be avoided.”
He insisted that that the group will furnish police with any form of evidence they have to prove their allegations.
President Museveni a few weeks ago warned that police would go after anyone who is making allegations of poisoning in Oulanyah’s death.
“The police will come and ask you to give them some information because Oulanyah did not die in a private home. Police are going to come and ask you to tell us because you seem to have information. We cannot go on with this indiscipline. It’s not constructive at all, especially from some people who are educated and claim to be leaders. We are going to go for them,”Museveni warned.
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