I am still in pain, says Nebanda's mother
Publish Date: Nov 21, 2013
The late Butaleja Woman MP Cerinah Nebanda
By Carol Kasujja“Words cannot explain the pain I am still going through ever since the lord called my daughter. It is now a year but I have never recovered,” said Alice Namulwa, the mother to the late Butaleja Woman MP Cerinah Nebanda during requiem mass at Christ the King on Wednesday.
Wearing a tough face, Namulwa insisted that her daughter’s death was not an accident and she will not even believe what the court finds out. She said they would have killed her instead of her young daughter who had not yet committed a lot of sins.
“My daughter was just 24 years; she had not even fulfilled her dreams. I will not be intimidated but I know my daughter’s death was arranged by some big people,” she noted with tears rolling down her cheeks.
Yesterday marked one year since death robbed former Butaleja Woman MP Cerinah Nebanda. It is alleged that she was killed by drugs and alcohol.
Addressing a congregation of about 30 to 40 people, Florence Nebanda Andiru, the elder sister to the late, said that there are still questions that remain unanswered but the lord who sees in the hearts of all will reveal everything at his selected time.
“Whenever we go home for any gathering and find her missing amidst us, tears flow freely. However, our lord who is our helper and hope has been with us especially during that trying period when we tried to seek for answers as to why she had to leave us when she was greatly needed,” she said.
She said that if her late sister got up today, she will not be ashamed but smile that the work she had started is still going on well and the struggle is on to see that her people are not suffering
She thanked the president of Uganda, the speaker of parliament, leader of opposition and his team, members of parliament who kept them going during that trying moment.
“We pray that justice maybe done by not only finding out what killed our Mp but by also trying to comfort the family,” said Emmanuel Dombo the Bunyole East MP.
In his message, Monsignor Joseph Mugabe who led the service prayed for the family and encouraged them to be strong because it is the same lord that gives and takes away.
Recently the case against the late Nebanda’s boyfriend Adam Suleiman Karungi came up for hearing at the Makindye chief Magistrate’s court
Karungi and his co-accused person who include Noor Abubakar, Khan Babu, Abdul Abid Rashid Butt, Ali Omar Almuzahim and Fatuma Babu were charged with manslaughter and illegal possesion and supply of narcotic drugs.
Dr Onzivua cries in court
Dr Onzivua (R) breaks down at Buganda Road Court yesterday after he was cleared of abuse of office and conspiracy to unlawfully obtain body parts of former Butaleja Woman MP Cerinah Nebanda. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA.
By BETTY NDAGIRE
Posted Wednesday, September 4 2013 at 01:00
In Summary
No case to answer. The judge says prosecution failed to adduce evidence to back allegations against the duo.
KAMPALA
KAMPALA
Mulago pathologist, Sylvester Onzivua yesterday broke down in tears of joy after Buganda Road Court acquitted and discharged him over charges of abuse of office and conspiracy to unlawfully obtain body parts of former Butaleja Woman MP Cerinah Nebanda.
Dr Onzivua was jointly charged with Kinkizi East legislator Chris Baryomunsi. Speaking to the Daily Monitor after the acquittal, Dr Baryomunsi said the public still demands a convincing explanation from the State on the cause of the untimely death of the youthful former MP (Nebanda).
He said they have instructed their lawyers to file a suit against the State, resulting from what they referred to as the nine months malicious prosecution they faced. It is through this suit that they will seek to be compensated.
No evidence
While giving her ruling in a court fully parked with friends and relatives of the freed suspects, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Ms Olive Kazaarwe, said no reasonable tribunal would convict the duo basing on irresolute prosecution evidence on record.
While giving her ruling in a court fully parked with friends and relatives of the freed suspects, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Ms Olive Kazaarwe, said no reasonable tribunal would convict the duo basing on irresolute prosecution evidence on record.
“There is no evidence indicating that the pre-postmortem meetings stopped Dr Onzivua from taking samples for further examination. So his actions do not constitute a criminal offence, he did everything in broad day light and it was documented,” Ms Kazaarwe said. She said the conspiracy charges are worthless since Dr Baryomunsi was acting on behalf of the Parliamentary Commission.
“This court concurred with the defense lawyers’ submissions that prosecution had failed to adduce evidence to back up the allegations levied against their clients. It is the finding of this court that a prima facie case has not been made against the accused persons on the available evidence to require them to defend themselves,” she said.
Prosecution alleged that on December 15 at Mulago hospital mortuary, Dr Onzivua, Dr Baryomunsi and others obtained Nebanda’s body samples and attempted to take them to South Africa without permission.
The cause of death
An official autopsy report that the government says was done in the United Kingdom revealed traces of alcohol and narcotics in the 24-year-old MP’s body. However, her fellow MPs claim her death was suspicious, attributing it to possible poisoning. The deceased (Nebanda) allegedly collapsed at a friend’s house on December 14, at 7pm, and was taken to Mukwaya General Hospital at Nsambya, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
An official autopsy report that the government says was done in the United Kingdom revealed traces of alcohol and narcotics in the 24-year-old MP’s body. However, her fellow MPs claim her death was suspicious, attributing it to possible poisoning. The deceased (Nebanda) allegedly collapsed at a friend’s house on December 14, at 7pm, and was taken to Mukwaya General Hospital at Nsambya, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.