Court remands Dr. Egwau to Soroti prison

SOROTI - The Magistrates' court in Soroti has Tuesday, February 4, remanded Dr. Godfrey Egwau to Soroti Government Prison on charges of causing death by rash negligence.

Grade One Magistrate Sarah Nantogo remanded Dr. Egwau until Thursday, February 6, after reading the charges to him that he denied.

Dr. Egwau a retired consultant gynaecologist was arrested for allegedly causing the death of Kapelebyong parish chief Emimma Lucy Aluka last month.

A postmortem report indicated that Aluka died of severe postpartum haemorrhage a condition that occurs when a woman experiences excessive bleeding after childbirth.

Dr. Egwau denied rushing to conduct an operation as stated by the police records that were presented in court.

“I did an operation but it was not a rush,” Dr. Egwau told a court that was attended largely by his relatives and friends.

He presented three sureties that included his wife Dr. Florence Egwau, a retired police officer who is a cousin John Epelu and Sylvia Atim the niece who works as an administrator with Bible Society of Uganda Teso branch.

The state Paul Okello objected to the request by Dr. Egwau’s lawyer Sam Kikomeko to grant his client bail on grounds that inquiries were still ongoing.

The bereaved husband Joseph Okello who was in court told New Vision that his lawyers shall review the type of charges the police preferred against Dr. Egwau.

“I am a lay person but once the experts in the law arrive, they will take on this matter. I want justice for my wife,” Okello said before breaking down in tears.

Magistrate Nantogo remanded Dr. Egwau to Thursday to allow her to review his bail application.

Dr. Egwau’s lawyer had argued that his client is of advanced age and diabatic, and required bail to facilitate his getting urgent medical attention.

The magistrate will on Thursday deliver her verdict on whether Dr. Egwau shall get bail or be further remanded as the hearing of the matter is fixed.

Outside court, the family was angry with journalists whom they attempted to block from taking pictures of the doctor as the prison wardens led him to the waiting cells before being driven to prison.

Aluka died during childbirth at the Welfare clinic in Soroti City last month January 24th.
 After her death, Aluka's baby girl was taken to an orphanage where she is being cared for now.