Kampala, 14th/March/2014; Police in Kampala are hunting for a suspect in the death of a Vision Group photo journalist, Mubiru Royce Kakebe, who reportedly died from a tetanus attack due to injuries occasion to him by one Percy Nanyondo in January this year as he carried on with his work.
Sources in police told HRNJ-Uganda that Kakebe reported an assault case at a police post in Kampala on January 19th against Percy, and on February 15, she was arrested, but later released on February 17th after Kakebe had reportedly reached a mutual agreement with her.
“Yes we are looking for her in connection to this death, but I will give details on the matter later,” the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Ibin Ssenkumbi told HRNJ-Uganda.
Percy reportedly stubbed Kakebe with a broken bottle after he declined delete a photo he had taken of a boat cruise on Lake Victoria in which she suspected to be involved, but Kakebe explained that he was a Vision Group journalist who had only taken a random picture of the cruise without necessarily targeting a particular individual.
Moments later, Percy reached for a bottle which she reportedly first broke and used to stub Kakebe on his hand much as she had aimed at the head, occasioning him deep cuts. Since January 2014 when the incident happened, the wound had not yet healed, but Kakebe did not see any eminent danger until when he blacked out on 07th March while at work as he prepared to go to the field for his assignments. He was rushed to Mulago hospital from where he was put on life support machines in the intensive care unit until Wednesday 12th, March when he was pronounced dead.
Kakebe was working with the Vision Group’s New Vision, The Kampala Sun tabloid and Bukedde. He is survived by a widow and two daughters. He was buried Friday 14th, March at his ancestral home in Wakiso District.
HRNJ-Uganda is saddened by the death of Royce in such a manner. We call on the police to investigate further into the cause of his death, and ensure that whoever was involved is brought to book. We send our sincere condolences to the family and the media fraternity.
