CID probes death of Chinese man at hotel guarded by UPDF

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) is investigating the mysterious death of a Chinese national at a hotel guarded by Uganda People’s Defence Force -UPDF soldiers in Nakawa Division in Kampala City.

Ji- Feng was reportedly discovered groaning in pain and crying for help at the weekend at Golden Hotel ground floor, yet he had been booked into a room to rest on the third level by his friends.

“It is difficult to tell whether he was pushed, whether it was an accident or whether he committed suicide,” said a source. “We have noticed through CCTVs that he entered the hotel in accompany of his colleagues who left and took different ways.”

ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson, confirmed Ji- Feng’s death, adding that he did not die at the scene but breathed his last IHK hospital where he had been rushed for treatment.

According to ASP Owoyesigyire, Ji-Feng was seen by UPDF soldiers guarding the hotel after they heard someone on the ground crying in excruciating pain. ASP Owoyesigyire said it difficult to conclude what exactly happened.

“We have been told that the deceased went for leisure with colleagues but he got too drunk,” Oweyesigyire said. “His colleagues decided to book for him a room to rest. It is not clear whether he jumped out of his room by accident or it was a suicide act.”

Facts so far gathered by police show that Ji-Feng was driven with his colleagues for a drink up by their company driver who left them there and drove back. The deceased and his colleagues are employees of Zedking Company.

Police are now reviewing all the CCTV footage to establish the final moments of Ji-Feng, Also, his colleagues are going to be probed separately. Incidents of people jumping to death from storied buildings have characterised the better part of June.

Some of the suicides by jumping from storied buildings include that of John Birungi Babirukamu, a seasoned digital marketing specialist and General Manager at Hedge Marketing. Babirukamu jumped to death from Tagore apartments on Mawanda road after writing on the family WhatsApp that he was an inconvenience in death as he was in life.

“I apologize for being an inconvenience in death as I was in life,”  Babirukamu wrote before jumping to death. “I have given it my all and now I find myself with only emptiness. I do sincerely love you all, and hope you find it in your hearts to forgive me. Kiss my nieces and nephews for me. They are the last joy that I held onto.”

Days after Babirukamu’s incident, Skukla Chiragkumar, 35-year old Indian national jumped to death at Skyz hotel in Naguru. The hotel management rushed him to UMC Bukoto which swiftly referred him to Mulago hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

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