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Suspect in Rwandan exiles case survives poison in jail

Friday March 22 2019
poison

Detained. Abdul Noor Ssemujju who is detained at Makindye Military Barracks.

Kampala. One of the suspects in the clandestine repatriation of Rwandan fugitives survived death by poisoning after the army reportedly intercepted his son allegedly carrying poisoned food and drinks for him in military detention facility in Makindye barracks.

Abdul Noor Ssemujju Minana’s wife, Ms Fatumah Nassanga, was arrested by army and handed over to Katwe Police Station on allegations of attempting to kill her husband.

“…We are investigating the motive of attempting to kill her husband because our laboratory tests have confirmed there was poison in the food and drinks [she brought to her husband],” Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said.

Ms Nassanga was apprehended by the army last week after she reportedly sent his son to take food and juice to her husband who has been on remand at Makindye military barracks for 17 months.

Mr Ssemujju, who joined police as an operative in 2007, was arrested in October 2017 on charges of kidnaping and repatriating a Rwandan national, Vincent Kalisa, who sought refuge in Uganda in 2013.

Army sources said Ms Nassanga on the fateful day first visited her husband in the morning hours. She later sent their son to deliver food to the husband but the boy was intercepted by soldiers manning the gate.

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“He was asked to taste the food he had brought for his father but he declined. Soldiers further tasked him to take a sip of the juice, he refused. He told them that his mother had cautioned him not to taste any of the two,” sources said.

Soldiers reportedly alerted their superiors who subjected the food to a toxicological test and it was found to have been laced with poison.

Upon confirmation of poison, the army asked the boy to lead them to their home in Kamuli Zone B, Kireka Town in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District where the mother was arrested.

“Ms Nassanga tried to flee when she saw soldiers but they had already surrounded the home. She was arrested and taken to Makindye military barracks where she recorded a statement,” sources said.

Mr Onyango applauded the soldiers for vigilance and arresting Ms Nassanga which saved Mr Ssemujju’s life.

“We are going [to prefer charges of] attempted murder because results from government analytical laboratory have proved there was poison in the eats. She tried to use the son to sneak the food to her husband but we thank the vigilant soldiers,” Mr Onyango said.

Police said Ms Nassanga’s file was sent to the Resident State Attorney for perusal and legal advice. Mr Onyango said police suspect that Nassanga wanted to kill her husband to paint a bad picture of the government and army.

It was not readily established whether Ms Nassanga’s son was also detained.

The army spokesperson, Brig Richard Karemire, declined to comment on the matter, saying he needed more time.

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