Police in Mukono District have launched a full investigation into a shocking case of rash and negligent conduct that resulted in the death of 40-year-old Asse Ssegawa and a disturbing attempt by relatives to secretly keep his decomposing body inside their home while praying for his resurrection.
According to preliminary police findings, Ssegawa fell ill about three weeks ago while staying at his family’s ancestral home in Butinindi, Terere Parish, Ntenjeru–Kisoga Town Council.
Instead of seeking medical help, relatives placed him under the exclusive care of a local pastor, Margret Nelima, also known as Nabbi.
Police say the pastor, together with Ssegawa’s mother, sisters, and other family members, conducted repeated prayer sessions while insisting the ailing man be denied all medical treatment.
Ssegawa’s condition worsened, and he eventually died.
But the family, allegedly following the pastor’s instructions, refused to report the death.
Instead, they kept the body inside the house for several days, continuing to pray over it in hopes that he would rise again, even as decomposition set in.
The macabre scene was uncovered only after neighbours detected a foul smell and went to check on the household. They found Ssegawa’s remains in an advanced state of decomposition, prompting an immediate police response.
Three suspects have since been arrested and are being held at Kisoga Police Station.
They are Eseza Nakalanzi 65, the deceased’s mother and a pastor; Suzanne Nakonde the deceased’s sister, also known locally as “Pastor.”; and Margret Melina alias Nabbi the pastor accused of directing the family to reject medical care.
The Deputy Kampala Metropolitan spokesman, Luke Owoyesigire said a postmortem examination will determine the actual cause of death as investigations continue.
He stressed that Police condemn the conduct as reckless, dangerous, and criminal, warning the public against substituting critical medical care with unregulated spiritual interventions. Authorities emphasized that denying treatment to the sick or keeping a body at home for prolonged “spiritual rituals” violates both the law and basic human dignity.
