Sipapa trial: Police reveal missing evidence, recovered items

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The ongoing trial of city socialite Charles Olimu, known as Sipapa, and his wife Shamirah Nakiyimba saw further testimony from key prosecution witnesses, including medical and forensic experts.

Prosecution witness nine, Fortunate Ninsiima from Mayfair Clinic Wandegeya, testified in the High Court in Kampala on February 18, 2025, presenting the medical report upon examination of Jacob Arok and Mary Ateng, who had visited the clinic for examination. 

Ninsiima presented the report on behalf of her former workmate, Gloria Kobusingye, who had left for further studies and was unable to attend court.

Report findings

The witness told the court that the couple had arrived at Mayfair with a police Form Three (PF3) from Kabalagala Police Station. The form contained the findings after the patients were examined. On August 29, 2022, Arok was found to be mentally unstable based on his physical appearance, though no physical injuries were evident. Blood samples were taken for further analysis to determine any chemical substances Arok had ingested, given his condition.

“The patient needed to be psychologically counselled and closely monitored,” Ninsiima added, citing the officer’s recommendation.

The report for Mary Ateng, Arok’s wife, showed similar findings. However, Ateng’s fingers and hands were peeling and tender, with injuries less than 24 hours old. Blood samples were also taken from her to determine which substance she might have inhaled.

Psychological counselling and close monitoring were recommended for Ateng as well, due to her unstable mental state and possible exposure to a sedative substance.

During cross-examination by defence lawyer Henry Kunya, Ninsiima confirmed that the reports were authored by her ex-workmate Kobusingye. She also clarified that their facility does not examine blood samples, as this is done by police laboratories.

Ninsiima highlighted that people react differently to chemicals, which explained why Ateng had peeling skin, while Arok did not, despite both being present during the same attack.

Scene of crime

The tenth witness was Detective Constable Ronald Yisiku Makaayi, a police officer currently attached to Entebbe Police Station. Makaayi, who was serving as the scene-of-crime officer at Kabalagala Police Station in 2022, testified that he had been assigned to examine a crime scene in Bbunga Kawuku on August 29, 2022.

The crime scene, located at the home of Jacob Arok, had been the site of an attack around 2:00 am that night. The attackers broke into the house, stealing phones, laptops, and hard cash. 

At the scene, Makaayi noted an unusual smell and found a towel at the master bedroom entrance with an intoxicating scent. In the drawer where money was stolen, they recovered an opened suitcase and a brown envelope containing a powdery substance suspected to be a chemical agent used in the attack.

Makaayi reported that the glass door leading to the master bedroom was open, suggesting that the attackers had entered through the balcony. The officer further stated that several exhibits, including fingerprints and a powdery substance, were collected and sent to the police laboratory for analysis.

However, during cross-examination, Makaayi revealed that all the photos and videos taken at the crime scene had been corrupted by a virus, and thus could not be presented in court.

“The photos were all lost to the virus,” Makaayi said.

Defence lawyer Kunya questioned Makaayi about where the photos were stored after being taken, but the officer insisted that it was beyond his control that the photos were permanently lost, denying accusations that he had caused the issue.

Recovered items

Another police officer, D/AIP Elizaph Mpumbi, testified about the search conducted at Sipapa’s house in Buwate-Kityo Close. Mpumbi reported that during the search, they recovered numerous items, including $70,000, four iPhones hidden in an Adidas shoe, gold jewellery, three laptops, a suspected gold melter, and more. 

He also mentioned that they recovered vehicle number plates, pliers, car accessories, CCTV monitors, and various currencies, including Ugandan shillings, Sudanese dollars, and euros.

Mpumbi presented the recovered laptops, suitcase, and handbag, but explained that some exhibits were too large to bring to court, including money, which had been securely stored at Kabalagala Police Station for security purposes.

During questioning by Kunya, Mpumbi clarified that he did not know whose phones had been recovered. He also defended his decision to lock out Nakiyimba during the search, explaining that she was not present as the owner of the house at the time.

Kunya also questioned why the police had not used the K-9 unit during the search, despite having the full support of other security organs.

The charges against Sipapa and Nakiyimba stem from the alleged robbery of six South Sudanese nationals on the night of August 29, 2022, at their home in Bunga Kawuku, Makindye Division. The suspects are accused of stealing large amounts of cash, electronics, and jewellery from the victims, including Jacob Arok, Mary Ateng, Chol Ateng, and Deng Arok.

The case has been adjourned to March 10, 2025, for the prosecution to present more witnesses.