UGANDA: Drama as pathologist is arrested at Entebbe

By  Dear Jeanne

Police yesterday intercepted and arrested Dr Silvestre Onzivua, a pathologist at Mulago hospital, at Entebbe International Airport on his way to South Africa for an independent opinion on what caused the death of Butaleja MP Woman Cerinah Nebanda.

Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said Dr Onzivua was being held for attempting to “smuggle” body parts of the deceased out of the country.

“Early this morning, in direct contravention of the law and professional requirements, and before the Director of CID could respond to his letter, Dr Sylvester Onzivua attempted to smuggle the samples out of the country. He was arrested at Entebbe Airport, while in possession of the samples,” Ms Nabakooba said in a statement.

Parliament affair

The parliamentary spokesperson, Ms Hellen Kaweesa, told the Daily Monitor that Parliament had requested for an independent opinion from Mulago hospital and Dr onzivua was chosen for the task.

Police said Dr Onzivua had not followed the right procedure in requesting for samples for independent analysis.

“Should a person require extra samples for independent analysis, the procedure demands that such a person obtains the samples from the Government Analytical Laboratory…,” Ms Nabakooba said.

She added: “In this instance, it is not clear what samples were in possession of the third parties, how they were obtained, and the conditions under which they were kept.”

The pathologist was, by press time last evening, under detention at the Kireka-based Special Investigation Unit.

Source: Daily Monitor (19/12/2012): http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Drama-as-pathologist-is-arrested-------at-Entebbe/-/688334/1647292/-/hyunfo/-/index.html