Kampala, Uganda | THE BLACK EXAMINER | The governments of the United Kingdom and South Africa have instructed the Ugandan forensic team to suspend the postmortem examination of their two nationals who were tragically killed in Queen Elizabeth National Park last week.
David Barlow and Celia Geyer, hailing from the UK and South Africa, had been in Uganda for their honeymoon but fell victim to assailants associated with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The bodies of the foreign tourists, along with that of Ugandan tour guide Eric Aryayi, were transported to Mulago hospital for postmortem. While Eric Aryayi’s postmortem was carried out and his body released to his family for burial, it has now been established that the UK and South African governments have instructed Ugandan forensic experts not to proceed with the postmortem until their own experts arrive.
In a joint security statement, Senior Commissioner of Police (SCP) Fred Enanga explained that Ugandan forensic experts will wait for their UK and South African counterparts to join them in conducting the postmortem. After the postmortems are completed, an official statement disclosing the cause of death will be provided to the High Commissions of the UK and South Africa.
David Barlow, a UK businessman, and his wife Celia Geyer, a South African-born hotel executive, had tied the knot just three days before the tragic incident. They resided in Hampstead Norreys, a village near Newbury in Berkshire. David Barlow also held the position of chairman of the Hampstead Norreys parish council and the local cricket club, in addition to running a wood yard in nearby Hermitage.
Furthermore, the Inspector General of Police, Martin Ochola, has directed the Integrated Highway Patrol commander to deploy personnel on all major roads and highways in Kasese district and neighboring areas. Enhanced patrol measures have been put in place, particularly along major roads and highways in Kasese district.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has strongly condemned the suspected ADF rebels for the killing of David Barlow and Celia Geyer, vowing that they will face severe consequences for their actions.
Before the attack last week, the suspected ADF group had attacked Ugandans, resulting in the burning of two individuals inside a truck.
