Mbarara City and its surrounding areas face an impending crisis as they lose access to the land in Rwobuyenje, once designated for the burial of unclaimed bodies. This setback follows a court ruling in October 2023, leaving authorities scrambling for alternative solutions to address the growing concern of where to bury the deceased.
Formerly utilized as a public graveyard in Rwobuyenje, Mbarara City South Division, the contested land has been acquired by a private developer, leaving the city council in disarray over its ownership. As a result, unclaimed bodies from Mbarara City and neighboring regions are now at risk of being left unburied, with potential consequences ranging from the dumping of bodies in water bodies to the grim prospect of bodies rotting along streets and in bushes.
Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) Executive Director, Dr. Celestine Barigye, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that the absence of a city mortuary coupled with the loss of the cemetery could escalate into a full-blown crisis. Dr. Barigye stressed the importance of preserving cemeteries not only for unclaimed bodies but also for individuals who have no designated burial grounds.
Halson Kagure, spokesperson for MRRH, disclosed that the court order has left a mere plot of less than 50 by 100ft available for public cemetery use. With an average of 20 unclaimed bodies received monthly, mainly from the police, the limited space raises concerns about the imminent shortage of burial sites.
Expressing the gravity of the situation, Mbarara City Council Speaker, Bonny Tashobya, acknowledged the crisis at hand, emphasizing the urgency for leaders to find a swift resolution to the predicament. The absence of a cemetery poses a significant challenge to the city’s progress and the dignified burial of its deceased residents.
In response to the crisis, Mbarara Clerk Assay Abireebe Tumwesigye revealed that the city has identified a temporary public burial site in Kenkombe, Kakoba, situated in the city’s North Division. Plans are underway for the gazettement of land in Kanywa, Mbarara City North, as a cemetery to provide a more permanent solution to the burial space shortage.
City Mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi expressed concern about local leaders opposing the establishment of cemeteries in their respective areas, citing cultural and traditional beliefs. Despite these challenges, Mayor Kakyebezi affirmed the city’s commitment to convincing leaders of the necessity of cemeteries, emphasizing that the city cannot function adequately without proper burial grounds.
