Mbarara city council struggles to dispose unclaimed bodies

Mbarara, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mbarara City Council is struggling to dispose of unclaimed bodies due to the lack of a cemetery.

In October Mbarara City Council lost the former public graveyard in Rwobuyenje, Mbarara City South Division, after a group of people sued the council for encroaching on their land, leaving the city council grappling with the challenge of where to bury unclaimed bodies.

Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, the Mbarara City Mayor, says that 42 unclaimed bodies were dumped at the city council premises on Tuesday and opted to bury them in Kanywa cell Kakoma Ward in Mbarara City North Division despite resistance from the local leaders.

According to Kakyebezi, Mbarara Regional Hospital is stuck with 20 unclaimed bodies.

Kakyebzi said that they chose Kanywa land as a temporary burial site as they seek council approval until appropriate land can be gazetted.

Benon Kyabwisho the Mbarara City North Division Mayor said that the burial of unclaimed bodies in Kanywa before it was approved by the Division council was illegal.

Dr Celestine Barigye the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Director asked the responsible offices to urgently identify another piece of land to solve the crisis.

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