Consultant pathologist Sylvestre Onzivua shortl yesterday |
Dr Sylvestre Onzivua, the forensic pathologist
detained over his involvement in the post-mortem examination of former
Butaleja Woman MP Cerinah Nebanda, has spoken out for the first time. In
an exclusive interview with the Daily Monitor yesterday, the
consultant said allegations by police that he attempted to smuggle
irregularly-acquired specimens of Nebanda’s body are spurious and
manifest dishonesty.
“I did not obtain the specimens irregularly. I
worked with a team of other pathologists; we would cut a body part and
extract the specimen, and then put in one bottle for the Government
Analytical Laboratory and another in [a different] bottle for
independent investigations,” he said.
Got specimen
“The bottles, in which the specimens were put, including the ones given to me, were issued by police from their small office in [Mulago Hospital] mortuary.” He said he assumed custody of the specimens meant for independent tests immediately after Saturday’s post-mortem at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
“The bottles, in which the specimens were put, including the ones given to me, were issued by police from their small office in [Mulago Hospital] mortuary.” He said he assumed custody of the specimens meant for independent tests immediately after Saturday’s post-mortem at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
Parliament contracted Dr Onzivua to independently
establish the actual cause of Nebanda’s sudden demise last Friday after
preliminary findings showed she died of multiple organ failure likely
triggered by the onset of a toxic chemical substance.
The bereaved family alleges foul play. President
Museveni said his government was not responsible for the death, and
anyone spreading such rumours would be arrested. He promised a full
investigation to establish the truth.
In yesterday’s interview, Dr Onzivua said he,
together with Police surgeon Moses Byaruhanga and lead pathologist Prof.
Henry Wabinga, removed samples from the deceased’s body organs. The
extracted specimens were, according to parliamentary commissioner Chris
Baryomunsi, separately given to the chief government chemist and Dr
Onzivua for independent inquiries.
Police officers, a representative of the bereaved
family, and Parliament agreed on the arrangement, Dr Baryomunsi told the
House during Tuesday’s heated debate to honour the fallen legislator.
Security operatives intercepted Dr Onzivua on Tuesday as he boarded a
Johannesburg-bound South African Airlines plane, saying he had a case to
answer.
They took him to Wandegeya Police station, on
city’s northern outskirt, before forcibly dispossessing him of the
specimens. He was later detained at the Police Special Investigations
Unit headquarters in Kireka, Wakiso District.
“I don’t still understand why I was arrested,” the
forensic toxicologist told this newspaper. “I do my work professionally
[and in this case], I was contracted formally by Parliament and
authorised by the Ministry [of Health] to travel to South Africa.”
Outside Kireka police station, lawmakers led by
Public Accounts Committee chairman Kassiano Wadri, said they were unable
to discern the continued incarceration of Dr Onzivua and the reasons
for SIU commander, Ms Beata Chelimo, to abandon station the whole of
yesterday. Detectives this newspaper spoke to said they were acting on
“orders from above”, but gave no specifics.
Dr Onzivua’s ordeal
When I was arrested, they drove me around the city
and we ended up at Wandegeya Police Station. While there, they forced
me to surrender the specimen. I declined because as a professional, I
could not guarantee the integrity of the specimen, which would not be in
my possession. All the same, they took it by force. I did not sign
anything or document showing I gave them the specimen. Maybe, the
samples are already compromised.
It is not true as alleged by police that I
obtained the specimens irregularly. I worked with a team of other
pathologists; we would cut a body part and extract the specimen then put
it in one bottle for the Government Analytical Laboratory, and another
in the bottle for independent investigations. The bottles, in which the
specimens were put, including the ones given to me, were issued by
police from their small office in the mortuary.
So, what did I do wrong? I was formally engaged by
Parliament and duly authorised by the Ministry of Health [see letter
above] to take the specimens to South Africa.
I was brought here [Police Special Investigations Unit (SIU)
headquarters in Kireka] at around 2pm. They just kept me around, moving
me from one office to another. I spent the night seated on chairs [in a
room adjacent to the deputy commander officer’s office]. But I am fine,
although I do not still understand why I was arrested. [His lawyers Abdu
Katuntu and Renato Kania separately said police had changed position to
say the forensic toxicologist was now being investigated for abuse of
office].
If I am to join a [toxicological investigative]
team, where shall we get new specimens from? When you introduce
formaldehyde to the body [during embalming], it compromises
investigations, it becomes difficult to establish the cause of death.
But I will offer my professional guidance when required.
I do my work professionally and had just returned
from South Africa where I, and a team of other experts, did examinations
on bodies of African National Congress (ANC) people exhumed after 20
years.
I managed to convince that team of experts and
they accepted to come and help in finding out about [burial place of and
cause of death of former chief justice Benedicto Kiwanuka].”
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