Mayombo death investigation deepens
May 07, 2007
SPECIALISED tests to establish the cause of Brig. Noble Mayombo’s death are being carried out in laboratories abroad. The Chief of Medical Services in the UPDF, Dr. James Makumbi, explained that specimens of his organs and fluids were taken to another country.
SPECIALISED tests to establish the cause of Brig. Noble Mayombo’s death are being carried out in laboratories abroad, reports Anne Mugisa.
The Chief of Medical Services in the UPDF, Dr. James Makumbi, explained that specimens of his organs and fluids were taken to another country, which he declined to name, either for double proof or because some tests were not available locally. He said the results would be compared to come up with a comprehensive picture.
The post-mortem was done in Kenya, where the permanent secretary died of acute pancreatitis on May 1, while a report from Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, where he had been admitted, was being compiled, Makumbi added.
“The people and the media should give us time. At the end of the day, the truth will come out. Nothing will be hidden. This is not the first case of acute necrotizing pancreatitis which makes the organs affected look like they have been boiled,†he said.
During the funeral service at Kololo Airstrip on Friday, Mayombo’s cousin blamed the death on the failure of the life-support machine. “That important dialysis machine failed from 11:00pm Monday night, so he was not on support, until about midday the following day when he died,†Roger Baguma said. The family wanted a full due diligence report from the hospital management, he added.
Rumours of poisoning have been circulating since Mayombo fell sick on April 26.
During the burial in Kabarole on Sunday, President Yoweri Museveni, said “criminally-minded individuals in the region†had Mayombo on their hit list, but he added: “Criminal scheming is not the same as succeeding.â€
Earlier, Dr. Ian Clarke, the director of International Hospital Kampala where Mayombo was first admitted, dismissed speculations of poisoning. “The diagnosis is fulminant pancreatitis and that is what he has been treated for,†Clarke said last week. “It has nothing to do with poisoning.â€
Meanwhile, state minister for health Dr. Emmanuel Otaala said he hoped the required machine to treat acute pancreatitis and multiple organ failure would be purchased in the next financial year.
“None of the four haemodialysis machines at Mulago Hospital can clean the pancreas of toxins. We need four more dialysis machines. We hope they will be catered for in the next financial budget. Each machine costs sh60m,†he told The New Vision yesterday.
The Chief of Medical Services in the UPDF, Dr. James Makumbi, explained that specimens of his organs and fluids were taken to another country, which he declined to name, either for double proof or because some tests were not available locally. He said the results would be compared to come up with a comprehensive picture.
The post-mortem was done in Kenya, where the permanent secretary died of acute pancreatitis on May 1, while a report from Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, where he had been admitted, was being compiled, Makumbi added.
“The people and the media should give us time. At the end of the day, the truth will come out. Nothing will be hidden. This is not the first case of acute necrotizing pancreatitis which makes the organs affected look like they have been boiled,†he said.
During the funeral service at Kololo Airstrip on Friday, Mayombo’s cousin blamed the death on the failure of the life-support machine. “That important dialysis machine failed from 11:00pm Monday night, so he was not on support, until about midday the following day when he died,†Roger Baguma said. The family wanted a full due diligence report from the hospital management, he added.
Rumours of poisoning have been circulating since Mayombo fell sick on April 26.
During the burial in Kabarole on Sunday, President Yoweri Museveni, said “criminally-minded individuals in the region†had Mayombo on their hit list, but he added: “Criminal scheming is not the same as succeeding.â€
Earlier, Dr. Ian Clarke, the director of International Hospital Kampala where Mayombo was first admitted, dismissed speculations of poisoning. “The diagnosis is fulminant pancreatitis and that is what he has been treated for,†Clarke said last week. “It has nothing to do with poisoning.â€
Meanwhile, state minister for health Dr. Emmanuel Otaala said he hoped the required machine to treat acute pancreatitis and multiple organ failure would be purchased in the next financial year.
“None of the four haemodialysis machines at Mulago Hospital can clean the pancreas of toxins. We need four more dialysis machines. We hope they will be catered for in the next financial budget. Each machine costs sh60m,†he told The New Vision yesterday.