Tests carried out on the bodies of the two foreign nationals that recently died in Pearl of Africa Hotel and Sheraton Kampala Hotel has revealed that they had foreign substances inside their internal organs, police says.
Two weeks ago, two Europeans, a Finnish national and Swedish national were found dead in two executive hotels in Kampala – Sheraton Kampala Hotel and Pearl of Africa Hotel in a space of just two days.
Tuomas Juha Petteri, 42, from Finland was killed at Pearl of Africa Hotel on February 5 while Alex Sebastian, 41, from Sweden, died from his room at Sheraton Hotel the following day.
Since then, details regarding the cause of their deaths have been scanty as police and other security agencies race to conclude investigations.
Reports say that Petteri arrived at Entebbe Airport from Finland and told immigration authorities that he was an investor who was in Uganda to meet the head of the Internal Security Organization (ISO), Col Frank Kaka.
Peterri then handed a letter purportedly signed by a State House official to authorities at the airport after which immigration contacted the ISO boss, Kaka to confirm whether he expected a visitor but he (Kaka) denied having any knowledge of the visitor.
Having failed to verify Petteri’s documents with State House as it was late, he was escorted to his hotel at Pearl of Africa Hotel.
On Monday, Police Spokesperson, Emilian Kayima told journalists at a news conference that the Government Analytical Laboratory (GAL) has completed its toxicology investigations on the bodies of Sebastian and Petteri.
Toxicology entails the study of the adverse effects of chemical substances on living organisms and the practice of diagnosing and treating exposures to toxins and toxicants.
“The toxicology reports showed that there were foreign substances discovered in their bodies. It is a detailed report, but very technical,” Kayima said, adding that “I will not divulge details as they could jeopardize the ongoing investigations”.
While Kayima said that the “foreign substances” could indeed have resulted into the double homicide, he was hesitant to confirm if the substances consisted of poison.
In line with the investigation, Kayima said that Police has apprehend five people considered to be critical suspects.
“There are people we need to record statements, especially those that interacted with the foreigners at the airport, who moved with them and booked them at the hotels,” Kayima said.
He said that the bodies have since been repatriated to the home countries of the deceased persons.