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Man holding the body of Ryan Ssemaganda Ryan Ssemaganda's body (being carried) was buried in his home just outside Kampala

Uganda uproar over toddler's death

A Funeral has been held in Uganda for a boy of two, whose death sparked an uproar because he was run over by a council vehicle after his mother was arrested for selling fruits illegally.

The family of Ryan Ssemaganda and opposition politicians had threatened not to bury him until officials had taken responsibility for his death.

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His body was taken to parliament last Thursday in protest.

Many Ugandans feel the Kampala council is too tough with street vendors.

His mother was arrested last Monday for selling fruit on the street without a licence.

The following day, his grandmother took him to the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) offices, where the mother had been detained, so she could breastfeed him.

The KCCA officials reportedly refused, but while the discussions were going on, he wandered away from his grandmother and was run over by a KCCA vehicle.

The police on Thursday prevented the boy's body from being taken to parliament.

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"We don't want a dead body in parliament. Go and bury him, don't disturb the peace of the dead," said regional police commander James Ruhweza, according to the Monitor newspaper.

He said the driver of the vehicle would be charged and urged the family not to let politicians take advantage of the situation.

Opposition politician Erias Lukwago visited the family before they took the boy's body to parliament, the Monitor reports.

Mr Lukwago was last year impeached as Kampala mayor - a move he is challenging in courts, saying it was politically motivated.

 

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