Wakiso, Uganda: Authorities in Kasangati, Wakiso District, are investigating circumstances under which Senior State Attorney Fatuma Bbuye Nabiwemba was found dead inside her house in Wampeewo on Thursday evening.
Nabiwemba, 47, who worked as an Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions at the DPP’s office, was reportedly last seen alive on Monday, July 7. Her decomposing body was discovered by neighbours who noticed flies and a strong odour emanating from the house.
Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed on Friday morning that the body was found lying unresponsive on the bed with no visible signs of physical injury.
“The deceased was found unresponsive inside her residence in Wampeewo, Kasangati Town Council, where she lived alone. The body had no physical injuries,” said Owoyesigyire in police statement.
According to police, the matter was reported at around 8:36 pm by Hamuza Kabanda, a driver attached to the DPP headquarters, after neighbours broke into the house. “Detectives from Kasangati visited the scene, conducted a thorough search and recovered items of evidential value,” Owoyesigyire added.
Among the recovered items was a letter reportedly from Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, indicating prior mental health consultations.
A source close to the case told DailyExpress that Nabiwemba had not reported to work this week and her absence prompted concern from colleagues. Neighbours reportedly last saw her on Monday, before discovering her body four days later.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed her death in a statement, saying:
“The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions regrets to announce the untimely passing of Ms Fatuma Nabiwemba, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, which occurred at her residence. Funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course.”
Details surrounding the cause of death remain unclear as the family awaits the postmortem report from Mulago City Mortuary.
Background information published by Monitor shows that Nabiwemba had reportedly battled post-natal depression for years. In a 2018 interview, her husband, Dr. Ibrahim Sendagire, revealed that she developed severe mental health challenges following the death of their two-and-a-half-month-old baby.
“My wife was not able to come to terms with the death of our baby,” Dr. Sendagire said. “The post-natal depression could have been escalated when I didn’t ask what caused the baby’s death, since I was out of the country. I even didn’t see the baby itself.”
Police have opened an investigation to determine whether her death was due to natural causes, suicide, or any other underlying factor.
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