Magistrate''s absence delays organ trade case

Sep 18, 2013

The trial of three people over illicit trade of human organs has been delayed following the absence of the Chief Magistrate, Olive Kazarwe.

By Job Bwire & Michael Odeng

KAMPALA - The trial of three people over illicit trade of human organs has been delayed following the absence of the Chief Magistrate, Olive Kazarwe.

Lt. Col John Kundu Wangusi, 56, attached to UPDF Air base; Prof. Vasudev Chaturvedi, 67, the vice president of Krishna Institute of Medical Science (KIMS) and Christopher Ogwal, 23 an Information Technology (IT) student at Makerere University and resident of Katabi zone in Entebbe municipality, are jointly charged with illicit trade of human organs.

The suspects Wednesday turned up for the trial only to be told by Sarah Langa Siu, the presiding Grade One magistrate attached to Anti-corruption Court that Kazarwe was away for official duties.

However, the state prosecutor, Peace Biira, informed court that the police investigations into the case were complete before asking for a date for hearing. Consequently, the matter was fixed for hearing on September 24.

According to prosecution, the three accused persons and others still at large committed the offense between March and June last year.

They were charged with aggravated trafficking of persons, in violation of section 4 (i) of the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act but have since denied the charges.

Prosecution further says that Krishna Institute of Medical Science (KIMS) in India organized, facilitated and made preparations for sending of Mathias Sekyewa (victim) to India for the purposed of removal of his kidney.

The three were arrested by the Special Investigations Unit of Police.  Police investigations established that Vasudev contacted Ogwal to find someone willing to donate their kidney and would be flown to India.

The donor, Sekyewa, was allegedly promised sh200m after the procedure.

Police investigations established that upon reaching India, Sekyewa is reported to have had second thoughts about the operation and asked to return home.

However, Prof. Vasudev and the medical team allegedly drugged him and extracted one of his kidneys. The case was reported at the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in May this year.

The deputy Police Force spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, said Police sanctioned a medical examination on the victim and showed that the victim’s left kidney was removed.

The recipient of the kidney, Isaac Wadwoda, aged 22, is said to be the son of Lt Col Wangusi.

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