NAMUTMBA, UGANDA: Police in Namutumba District is investigating how a senior two student at Busembatia Secondary School in Busembatia Town Council, Bugweri District committed suicide by hanging inside a police cell.
The deceased identified as James Mukama was Monday morning found hanging dead inside a cell at Bugobi Police Post, Bugobi Town Council, Namutumba District.
Busoga East Police Spokesperson, Ms Diana Nandaula confirmed the incident and said: “Police are doing their best to establish the cause of death. It is true he hanged himself, but our investigations are still going on.”
According to the deceased’s sister only identified as Nabudo Bridget, Mukama was last Friday arrested and detained at Bugobi police on allegations of stealing two saucepans and a Visa belonging to one of the residents in the Town Council.
“I had gone for the ongoing residual mosquito spraying currently underway in Namutumba District when I heard about my brother’s arrest. I visited him that (Friday) evening to confirm whether the allegations against him were true, but he said they weren’t,” she said.
“We were planning to go to Court this week, but his death has shocked us. My brother has been a hardworking boy committed to his gardens where he gets school fees. His death is a very big loss to us as a family because our father has lost an heir.”
Ms Veronica Namumbya, also a sister to the deceased, said she last spoke to Mukama on Sunday evening. “During our lengthy conversation, he told me how ‘bad’ police cells were, and I did not know that was his last speech,” she said.
Mr Moses Nandabi, the Bugobi Town Council district councillor, blamed police for their alleged delay to carry out investigations, saying the suspect was detained for more than the stipulated 24 hours, after which a suspect must be produced in Court.
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