Post-Mortem Clears Prison Officials of Foul Play in Lazarus Kahangire’s Death

Post mortem report rules out foul play in dead of prisoner

Pathologists have released a post mortem report revealing what caused the death of Lazarus Kahangire, who died from Ibanda prison.

The post mortem report dated April 4, 2025 shows that the Kahangire died due to pneumonia.

“There was peripheral cyanosis and pallor of mucous membranes, no other stigmata of disease seen and there were no physical antemortem, external injuries seen” reads part of the report.

The post – mortem report dispels earlier assertions of foul play in the death of Kahangire in which relatives had claimed that the deceased man could have been poisoned while in prison cells.

They had alleged that the late Kahangire never presented any signs of illness prior to his arrest on March 18, 2025.

Family members had said that the late Kahangire was arrested and arraigned before the Magistrate’s court in Ibanda on charges of attempted murder.

He was subsequently remanded to Nyabuhikire government prison. The accusations stemmed from a fight between Kahangire and his uncle’s son identified as Davis, with whom they have been wrangling over ownership of land.

A brief record from the Uganda prisons shows that the inmate, Kahangire, 48, was screened on March 21, 2025.

“He had weight 49 kgs, height 160cm and BMI 19.1Kg/M2. He was a client on treatment and we opened a file there and then started taking his treatment.

That’s basically what was done on the day he came to Prison,” reads a statement.

The Assistant Resident District Commissioner for Ibanda, Richard Banjo said that Kahangire was committed to prison over an old criminal case file where he was charged jointly with ten other people.

According to Banjo, nine suspects including the late Kahangire were on the run over attempted murder and he was tracked to be arrested.

“I am told the eight people were still at large and they had come to attend the burial of their relative. It is at that point that they saw the policeman who arrested the deceased and they feared that they would be arrested, ” Banjo said.

He added: “It is at that moment that the eight suspects started the fracas to chase away the policeman because they feared to be arrested. This provoked anger leading to an attack that resulted in the killing of the policeman, Sulaiman Chemonges.”

He also attributed the fight to the protracted land dispute which has spanned for more than two decades in courts of law.

Mr Banjo further revealed that a court order has been issued to maintain status quo on the land for the worrying parties to stay in their places until the determination of the case.

Police investigation

Meanwhile, the police are still investigating the circumstances under which a police constable Chemonges was killed by the angry mourners who had turned up for the burial of Kahangire.

Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi Region police spokesman said they are still investigating the mob action.

“We have 40 suspects in custody and the operation is still ongoing,” Said Mr Kasasira without revealing the identities of the suspects.

It is alleged that Chemonges was violently killed by a group of mourners during Kahangire’s funeral at Kambogo Cell, Bisheshe Division where he had been assigned for security duties on April 6, 2025.