Panic has gripped police officers at Ntinda police station after a suspect was found dead while in detention.
The deceased who was identified as Mr Okumu Sande was a private guard at one of the hotels in Ntinda, Kisaasi.
According to preliminary investigations by police, Okumu is believed to have committed suicide.
According Ms Annet Arinaitwe, the officer who was in charge on Thursday night, Okumu is believed to have torn the blanket provided and used the pieces as rope to commit suicide.
Usually suspects are searched and always are detained without materials such as belts which could aid suicide among those who may think about it.
The female officer believes that the Okumu committed suicide at about 8:30 because she had checked on him in the cells at 8pm and found him in the cell and still alive.
Ms Arinaitwe also told City Hall Court grade one Magistrate Moses Nabende that a one Eddie Mukisa, a guard is the one that found Okumu’s corpse hanging in the cell after a check at around 9pm on Wednesday evening. Mr Nabende had gone to make a spot check and examine the body.
Police speaks out
When contacted by this reporter, the Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson Emilian kayima confirmed the incident although he said that he did not have details of Okumu’s death.
“It is true a suspect died in the cells but I do not have the details with me here since I have already left office,” Mr Kayima.
How Okumu was arrested
According to the police file that was opened in Okumu’s death, the late had been charged with common nuisance after he was allegedly disturbing customers at the hotel he was a guard at. Okumu is said to have got drunk and allegedly started insulting customers.
Okumu’s body was taken to Mulago hospital for a postmortem.
