Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Jinja-Road police Station has opened fresh inquiries into the death of 19-year-old Mark Mudoola, a former senior six leaver who died at Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital in May this year. The move stems from pressure from the deceased’s family demanding justice.
The deceased’s family disputes a May 21, 2021, postmortem report from the city mortuary signed by police pathologist Dr. Richard Ambayo indicating that Mudoola succumbed to a “head injury following a blunt force trauma, insisting that he was killed. According to available information, Mudoola arrived at the Luzira-based Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital on May 17 suffering mental health-related problems.
He, however, died two days later. His mother, Annet Nabwire, says that they received news of her son’s death three days after. It is alleged that shortly after his arrival at Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital; Mudoola was admitted to Kirinya Court ward, which he protested, saying couldn’t share space with mad people since believed he didn’t have mental problems.
However, the security guards could have none of this and demanded that Mudoola changes into the in-patients uniform, which he declined. The Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, says that Mudoola fought off the security guards when they tried to undress him forcefully and hold him as doctors were trying to administer treatment.
“The family said that the brutal force that was applied by security guards on someone who was ill already was the route cause to the death, and also the silence by the hospital when the deceased passed on is another issue. They claim that the hospital was looking for ways of covering up. That’s why we opened these ongoing investigations in this matter,” Owoyesigyire said.
Jim Ntale, a close friend to the family posted on social media that Butabika is a mental hospital and professionally is not expected to treat critical head injuries that can cause internal bleeding to the brain, fracture of the skull and demands urgent medical attention.
“We want police to investigate this incident and tell us exactly how Mudoola died because we’re so heartbroken. If they had rushed him for treatment they could have saved his life. Our son was killed and someone should be answering,” said Ntale.
According to Owoyesigyire, Butabika police post recorded the death inquiry under SD 09/20/05/2021. He, however, says Jinja Road police has taken over the investigations and picked statements from nurses, doctors, and security guards who were on duty with the exception of one guard who is said to be missing.
Dr. Juliet Nakku, the Executive Director of Butabika hospital has not yet commented on the matter. The Health Ministry Spokesperson, Emmanuel Ainebyoona also declined to comment on the matter, saying it is under police investigations.
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