Bodies of tourists killed in Queen Elizabeth Park handed to Experts from UK for further probe

Kampala, (UG): The Uganda Police said Monday that the government has formally handed over the bodies of the two foreign tourists, who were killed in Kasese, weeks ago to forensic experts from the United Kingdom (U.K.) to carry out their probe into the attack.

The two tourists, a U.K. national, and the South African partner were together with a Ugandan guide when the assailants linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked and killed them before setting the vehicle, in which they were travelling in, on fire.

The incident occurred near Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kasese District, southwestern Uganda.

After several weeks of investigation in Uganda including the arrest of the suspect leader of the attack, security authorities say the two bodies of the foreign tourists were handed over to the team of forensic and investigative experts from the UK, and repatriated to the UK at the beginning of the month on November 1, 2023.

“We wish to inform the public that the bodies of the two foreign tourists, who were killed in Kasese, were handed over to the team of forensic and investigative experts from the UK, on 1st, November 2023 and repatriated to the UK,” Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga stated in a weekly security briefing on Monday.

“We know, it is a painful wait for the families and relatives of the deceased persons. Our hearts and thoughts continue to be with their families and loved ones,” he added.

According to Mr Enanga, the joint task team investigating the tragic murder shared their findings with the UK team, including the timelines of events, aligned with GPS, phone evidence and other significant lines of inquiry.

“A full autopsy report was also handed over,” Enanga stated, before assuring all Ugandans and visitors in the country, that significant improvements in the safety and security of all visitors at all tourist sites in the country, have been made since the tragedy occurred.

“Efforts are now in place to recover part of the exhibits, recovered on the commander of the ADF rebel group, that was established to be behind the attack on the tourists and their driver. He was arrested by the UPDF, Marines and CMI,”

Enanga further promised that the truth behind these cowardly attacks would come out and the perpetrators brought to justice or put out of action, in case they fail to surrender.

“We continue to applaud the UPDF, who are relentlessly pursuing the ADF remnants near the border and in the DRC, for the peace and stability of our country,” he said.