Forensic investigations into the death in custody of four suspects in the General Katumba Wamala shooting have left experts baffled after pathologists found the internal contents of the dead men’s bodies difficult to figure out and have had to send samples of different organ tissues for more advanced analysis.Inside one man they found an unexpectedly large amount of grey fluid which they have also forwarded for more specialized analysis.
Katumba Wamala on June 1st survived an assassination that took away the life of his daughter Brenda Nantongo Wamala and his driver Haruna Kayondo. The duo was shot dead along Kisota Road in Kisaasi in Nakawa Division by unknown assailants who were moving on motorcycles.
When the hunt for the suspected murderers started, the joint security forces arrested twelve people and of these, four were shot dead in action according to Benard Muhumuza a Commander in the Criminal Investigations Directorate. This is according to his affidavit drafted by the Attorney General’s chambers which is before the Kampala High Court Civil Division.
The four dead men are: Idris Serwadda alias Swakibu alias Juma, Mustafa Kawawa Ramadan alias Musa alias Amin, Juma Saidi , Hussein Wahab Lubwama alias Christopher Kinene alias Master.
Now, the latest information which has been obtained by URN and submitted before Justice Ssekaana on the request of the lawyers led by Anthony Wameli who were representing the deceased suspects, shows that the deceased were found with multiple injuries and fluids in their bodies as found during their postmortem examination.
For instance, in Mustafa Ramathan’s stomach the Pathologists at Kampala Capital City Mortuary led by Dr Moses Byaruhanga found a whole little of greyish fluid and samples were taken for advanced analysis to determine if there was any toxicological content.
The other pathologists who participated in the exercise which took place on July 2nd 2021 include Dr Richard Ambayo and Dr Phenehas Bwambale.
Their report indicates that Ramathan was found with nine bullet entry wounds with burning surroundings around them.
It also shows that his entire body surface was blood stained.
“The entire body surface was stained, there were sand particles, dry and fresh vegetation over the body surface,” reads the report. “The body had a well-built stature. It was cold and stiff. The clothing had patterned bullet tears.”
Two blood swabs were taken for DNA profiling, finger prints were taken and some samples of urine, stomach contents, liver and kidney were all taken for toxicological analysis.
The report which shows that Detective Corporal Kasian Asindua the Scene of Crime Officer –SOCO at Kawempe Police Station took pictures of the post mortem exercise concludes that Ramathan died of hemorrhagic shock following gunshot wound injuries.
It further concludes that the gun shot injuries were at short range and that all bullets exited the body and no fragments were recovered.
For Juma Saidi , the report shows that his body was bleeding from tests and the brain matter was seen in his hair and the trousers were soiled with fecal matter.
“The right side of the face was dimpled. The right facial bones were fractured, reads a separate report also dated July 2nd 2021.
It also shows that the urinary bladder, right spermatic cord and the prostate were contused by the bullet which was found stuck in his muscles. The bullet was later handed over to the Scene of Crime Officer -SOCO.
According to the report, Juma Saidi died of brain laceration following gunshot injury which were taken at shot range.
On his part, Juma Serwadda who was a resident of Namugongo, the postmortem report shows that he had multiple abrasions involving the right cheek which was stained by both blood and soil and it also had multiple round shaped gunshot injuries.
“The bullet hit the occipital skull bone, passed through the meninges and brain parenchyma causing a comminuted fracture of the vault of the skull with extensive brain laceration and hemorrhage within the brain tissues,” reads the report in part.
However, unlike others, the report shows that Serwadda’s stomach was empty and it was found that he died of extensive brain laceration following gunshot injury.
Hussein Lubwama alias Master.
The report shows that his entire buttocks had bruises, as the upper limbs and he was swollen.
“The dorsum of the hands and feet were bruised and swollen. There was circumferential handcuff -like abrasions across the wrists of 0.5 centimeter width over the forearms. The anterior of the legs were bruised”, reads the report.
It also shows that the stomach had partially digested cream /yellow fluid substances of 500 milliliters whose sample has equally been taken for further analysis.
It concludes that Master died of hemorrhagic shock following blunt force trauma.
All the bodies of the deceased have since been buried in their respective homes with exception of Master’s body which was sent to the mortuary on June 30th 2021.
Speaking to URN, the lawyers of the deceased revealed that they are considering to file an application aimed at investigating the circumstances under which these people were killed because they raise a number of questions.
