Family of missing Ugandan doctor identifies his body after exhumation from Kakamega farm
Dr Gideon Wamasebu Simiyu, the Ugandan doctor reported missing after he travelled from his home in Uganda a week ago and crossed into Kenya. Family identified his body on February 13, 2023.
The family of the missing Ugandan doctor who is reported to have been kidnapped and murdered in Western Kenya identified his body during a post-mortem conducted on Monday night at the Kakamega County and Referral Hospital Mortuary.
The post-mortem, conducted by Kakamega County pathologist Dickson Mchana, indicated that Dr Gideon Wamasebu Simiyu, 62, died of strangulation.
His attackers appear to have drugged him before strangling him using a rope.
Dr Mchana said samples for DNA analysis had been collected from the family members so as to confirm the identity of the deceased.
“After the DNA tests, we can then conclusively say that the deceased is indeed the missing doctor. The results are expected in the next two days,” said Dr Mchana.
The family of the missing doctor has begun making preparations to have the body taken to Uganda once the DNA test results are in.
According to the family, Wamasebu left home on February 6. In their report, police said he was in the company of a pastor from Kenya who has visited him. They travelled by public transport and crossed the border into Kenya on the same day.
On Tuesday, the family issued a statement saying: “On Monday February 6th, Dr Gideon Wamasebu, our family chairperson and a former Manafwa District health officer left his home in Mbale Town, indicating he was headed for a business trip.
“On Tuesday 7th February, 2023, several family members received distress messages from his phone, indicating he had been kidnapped and was being held in Kenya. The messages were also seeking a ransom for him to be set free.
“The family immediately informed the Uganda police, which began investigations. They got in touch with their Kenyan counterparts and several arrests were made. On Monday 13th February, following certain leads, some family members accompanied by both Ugandan and Kenyan police visited a site in Malava, Kakamega, Kenya, where it is thought Dr Wamasebu could have been killed.
“A body was retrieved and both Kenyan and Ugandan medical personnel are conducting extensive tests to ascertain the identity of the body. We have been advised to await the results before drawing firm conclusions.
“In the meantime, Kenya and Uganda security continue with investigations. As a family, we thank all of you who have reached out to us in what is an obviously trying time. We shall keep you posted on the way forward in due course.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12),” said the statement signed by Don Wanyama and Christine Simiyu on behalf of the family.
On Monday, residents of Machemo village in Kimangeti, Kakamega North Sub County, were in shock after detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) exhumed the body on the banks of River Isiukhu, next to a sugarcane farm that had been set on fire.
Detectives are still trying to piece together details to solve the mystery surrounding the Ugandan doctor. He went missing after he allegedly travelled to Webuye in Western Kenya in the company of a pastor. Details of his mission in Kenya remain scanty.
The doctor was serving as the district health officer in Manafwa district, Eastern Uganda.
After the February 7 distress message was sent to relatives, telling them that his life was in danger, and they should send Sh4 million, several other messages were sent to family members from his phone on the same day, but the family was unable to reach him and establish his location.
That was the last communication the doctor had with his family, and police suspect he might have been kidnapped, murdered and buried secretly.
A suspect who allegedly sent the extortion messages to the doctor's family has been arrested.
On Monday, the DCI team led by Director of Homicide Martin Nyaguto visited the scene of crime in Machemo village.
The body had visible injuries on the neck and right hand.
The family members were led by Peter Wamasebu Wanyonyi, the victim's brother, and Mr Wanyama, the family spokesman.
Shocked villagers gathered at the scene from Monday morning until late evening in large numbers to witness the exhumation.
“The body has been taken to the Kakamega County mortuary in preparation for a post-mortem examination. Detectives have taken his fingerprints and other samples that will help identify the deceased,” said Kakamega North Sub County Police Commander Paul Mwenda.
Before the body was carried away, elders from the Kabras community approached the family members, requesting to conduct a cleansing ceremony at the scene.
“The killing happened next to a farm belonging to one of our elders. The family is planning to plant a banana stem in the pit in which the body had been buried. But we are asking them to provide money, so that we can buy a bullock and a black sheep to cleanse the place to avert misfortunes in our community,” said Mr Richard Shiyonga, an elder from the neighbouring Ikoli village.
