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The Directorate of Government Analytical Laboratory (DGAL) under the Ministry of Health is facing queries about the quality of evidence it has provided, upon which many Ugandans have been sentenced to prison.
Appearing before Parliament’s Defence and Internal Affairs Committee to discuss the Forensic Evidence Bill, 2024, Dr Sylvester Onzivua, a prominent Ugandan pathologist, revealed shocking cases of alleged incompetence by (DGAL).
He warned that flawed forensic evidence from DGAL has led to wrongful convictions, with some individuals serving decades in prison based on questionable findings.
“Flawed Forensic Practices Undermine Justice”
Dr Onzivua cited cases where forensic evidence presented in court was outright inaccurate.
He referenced the conviction of former Arua Municipality MP Akbar Godi, where soil samples were allegedly matched with shoes found at his home, with a claimed accuracy of 99.9%.
“That would be a lie. It should not be possible,” Onzivua stated, casting doubt on the credibility of the evidence that led to Godi’s 40-year jail sentence for the murder of his wife, Rehema Caesar.
Dr Onzivua further criticised DGAL for lacking the expertise to handle complex cases, such as poison diagnoses, which often require specialised equipment and skilled personnel.
High-Profile Cases Raise Serious Questions
The pathologist detailed cases that exposed DGAL’s shortcomings, including the mysterious death of a murder suspect, Atwine.
Although police identified Atwine as the man who pulled the trigger in lawyer Robina Kiyingi’s murder, his sudden death while in custody raised suspicions.
Postmortem samples sent to DGAL failed to detect any toxins, but a subsequent analysis in South Africa revealed Lidocaine, a drug that can stop the heart when administered intravenously.
“The Director of DGAL admitted to me that it was incompetence,” Onzivua said.
Onzivua also brought up the case of a man accused of poisoning another individual who later died of pancreatitis.
DGAL’s report pointed to acute poisoning, despite evidence showing that the alleged poisoning occurred two months before the victim’s death.
Call for Reforms and Oversight
Dr Onzivua urged Parliament to benchmark Uganda’s forensic practices against international standards.
“We should set up a national forensic committee, as is the case in the UK, to oversee DGAL, the police, and the Ministry of Health,” he proposed.
He also criticised DGAL’s attempts to secure funds for non-existent technology, such as a machine claimed to accurately determine a person’s age.
“My colleagues around the world laughed at me when I inquired about such a machine,” he noted.
The pathologist concluded that DGAL’s failures have eroded public trust in the justice system, with individuals wrongly sentenced to long prison terms based on flawed forensic evidence.