Mystery surrounds Dutch national's death

THE Police in Sheema district are investigating circumstances under which a 49 year old male Dutch national died at Kyalimanya social centre, Kitojo trading centre in Kyangyenyi sub-county.

According to the Police, Mack Niterop on Saturday evening went to the hotel and had a drink before retiring to bed. Sources said the deceased was served with some beers and a chapatti. He was, however, discovered in a coma on the hotel verandah on Sunday morning. Minutes later, he was declared dead at Kampala International University teaching hospital.

Niterop was a brother to Bastian Niterop who runs the Second Home project in Sheema. The deceased had paid a visit to his brother and has been in the area for three months. Mid south-western region Police commander Hillary Kulayigye, quoting preliminary investigations, said the deceased could have been poisoned, adding that the medical report indicates that he had neither sickness nor injury.

“The way the hotel people reacted is suspicious, because they left him there. It is a young boy who told the Police that a white man was lying unconscious on the verandah steps at the hotel. Samples have been taken to Wandegeya forensic laboratory to ascertain the cause of the death,” Kulayigye said.

Six hotel staff and Sylivia Kemigisha, the deceased’s girlfriend, have been arrested for interrogation while others are on the run.

Frank Kacunguzi, the Kitojo LCI chairman, said during his stay, the deceased frequented several local bars. Bastian told the Police that he had warned his brother about loitering in the area specifically the hotel where he met his death.