Africa-Press – Uganda. A neighbor who buried one of the victims of the recent spate of killings in greater Masaka sub region before claiming for Shs10 million condolences from President Museveni, said he did it as a Good Samaritan.
Francis Ruhamyankaaka was attacked and killed on August 8, 2021 at Dongwa village, Nakateete parish, Kisekka Sub County in Lwengo District before he was buried by his neighbor, one Edward Ssentongo.
Ssentongo and 24 other families that lost relatives in the senseless killings were later invited to State House Entebbe where President Museveni gave each family Shs10 million as condolences.
However, on September 21, Ruhamyankaaka’s family travelled from Kisoro District to Lwengo District to claim for his remains after they heard that he had been killed.
Ssentongo and some of the people he allegedly shared the money with disputed the Kisoro family’s claim insisting that he (Ssentongo) is the legitimate family member until a DNA test was done confirming the claimants.
Edward Ssentongo
Remains exhumed
As Ruhamyankaaka’s relatives exhumed his remains from Ssentongo’s compound on Friday, he (Ssentongo) confessed to burying him after failing to trace for his relatives.
“I only did what any Good Samaritan could do since the deceased had no relatives in Lwengo. I did not even know that President Museveni would provide assistance to the grieving families,” he said.
He says he was advised to join the affected families that travelled to State House by one Sgt Julius Mbabazi, a former CIID officer at Kinoni police post, who later took Shs5 million as his share. He shared the balance of Shs5 million with a crime preventer, one Francis Rukundo (Shs500,000) and gave one Kajubi Mugagga alias Katikkiro Shs4 million to construct him a batter house.
Arrest
The four (Ssentongo, Mbabazi, Rukundo and Mugagga had been arrested on orders of Lwengo RDC, Mr Herman Ssentongo before Shs5,250,000 was recovered from them. However, they were later released on police bond after promising to clear the balance once free.
“I was living in a house which was in a bad state. The money was an opportunity for me to build a better house which I’m currently living in with my family,”Mr Ssentongo said before adding that he was stunned when Ruhamyankaaka’s family came out to claim for his remains.
“Ruhamyankaaka’s relatives caused my arrest without first hearing my side of the story. I was tortured in the police cells before the detectives forced me to refund the money,” he said.
The RDC lauded Ssentongo for caring to bury his neighbor.
“Many people fight for land but Ssentongo did not look into that; he only cared about helping the deceased and everyone ought to borrow a leaf from him,” Mr Ssentongo said.
Francis Ruhamyankaaka’s relatives dig up a grave where he was buried in Lwengo District before his remains were transferred to their home in Kisoro
Ddongwa village LC1 chairman, Mr Richard Ssenkaayi said they were stranded with Ruhamyankaaka’s remains before Ssentongo offered to bury them.
Ruhamyankaaka’s remains have been exhumed and taken to Kisoro for burial.
Police yesterday surrendered Shs5 million to Ruhamyankaaka’s out of the Shs5.25 million Sgt Mbabazi and Rukundo refunded.
The killings
Close to 30 people lost their lives in the senseless murders that rocked greater Masaka sub region. Several people, including two MPs, Allan Ssewanyana (Makindye West) and Muhammad Ssegirinya were arrested murder, attempted murder and aiding abetting terrorism charges before they were remanded to prison.
READ
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