By Sophan Niwamanya
apearlnews.com
Police in Rukungiri have launched investigations into the death of a 26-year-old man in police custody at Buyanja police station.
Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region police spokesperson, identified the deceased as Benjamin Akampa alias Kyojo, a resident of Kitojo, central Bugyera parish, Buyanja sub-county, Rukungiri District.
It’s alleged that on May 24, 2023, at about 5:24 p.m. at the Buyanja police station, Atweta Allan reported a case of housebreaking and theft of his Hisense television set valued at 1,600,000 Ugx, which was stolen by the deceased Akampa Benjamin.
Maate narrated that the complainant, in conjunction with Niwamanya Ivan, Tumuhairwe Merry, Tumuhabirwe Yusufu, and others, started searching for the suspect.
ASP Maate said that when they called him, he revealed that he was in a bar in Marumba Trading Center, where they proceeded to pick him up and take him to the house of the complainant, where it has been established that they allegedly beat him up.
After the deceased failed to reveal where the TV was, that’s when they took him to Buyanja Police Station at around 3:00 a.m. of the night, and he was duly detained.
According to statements obtained from other suspects who were in custody, the deceased started complaining of stomach pain and was convulsing as if he were drunk.
Maate told journalists today that at around 6:00 a.m. on May 25, 2023, No. 75918 PC Cherop, the night cell guard, while checking off duty, opened the cells and talked with the suspects, including the deceased.
But later, at around 7:20 a.m., the day cell guard No.049 SPC Begumisa Bazira opened the cells and found him lying down facing up, and on checking him, found that he had died.
No. 049 SPC Begumisa immediately called the OC Station, which also entered the cells and confirmed the death.
Maate revealed that after which she immediately rang the DPC Rukungiri, who mobilized officers, and the magistrate Grade One, His Worship Wakayemba Martin, who is conducting the inquest, who all visited the scene, which was processed and documented.
The body was taken to Rwakabengo HC III Mortuary for postmortem.
Meanwhile, the four suspects who allegedly arrested the deceased have been arrested to aid investigations while inquiries are underway to establish the likely cause of his death.
The Police Spokesperson notes that cases of sudden death were registered at Rukungiri District Police Station under reference numbers R’RI CRB 728/2023 and INQUEST NO. 001/2023.
