By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: State Minister for Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Idah Elios Nantaba has landed in hot soup after being sued together with four police officers over the murder of Ronald Ssebulime.
In the suit filed by Ssebulime’s sister Sylvia Nakayita and others, the family accuses Nantaba of allegedly providing false information to police officers that led to the deceased’s death. Nakayita through their lawyer, Muwada Nkunyingi also accuses Nantaba of failing to respond to police summons to record a statement over Ssebulime’s death.“That the 1st defendant (Nantaba) has shunned all Uganda police summons and only this honorable court can issue summons or issue warrant of arrest against her,” reads the suit in part. She also calls for the prosecution of police constables Ronald Opiro, Ronald Baganza and Edward Cherotich for their involvement in Ssebulime’s murder.
“That I have since personally and as the family of the late Ssebulime raised our concerns to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Uganda police force over the failure to prosecute the suspects…” the complaint reads in parts. Corporal David Ssali who is said to have shot Ssebulime, has been appearing before Mukono Magistrates Court. The complainant accuses the three officers of allegedly assisting Ssali to execute unlawful mission. “…smartly dressed in Uganda police uniform and driving on a patrol ‘999’, the defendant with malice, ignored his cries and assisted a one Ssali Dvaid to shoot and jointly made a false report thereafter,” the suit reads in part. The family members who were dressed on T-shirts inscribed with the words “Justice for Sebulime”, expressed their dissatisfaction, saying they need court to console them with justice. Nkunyingi says the police are yet to arrest Nantaba, who wrongfully fed police with false information leading to the shooting of the deceased.
Ssebulime was shot dead on March 24, 2019 at Nagojje Trading Center in Mukono District following a false alarm by the minister. It is said that he was heading to visit his children at school, but was apprehended by police and bundled on police patrol. He was later pulled off the vehicle and shot in cold blood. The police later gave contradicting statements about his death and soon thereafter apologised to the public for the misleading information about Ssebulime’s murder. Investigations into the matter have since hit a dead end, especially after police failing to extract a statement from Nantaba.
