Ugandan nationals are increasingly turning to Kenyan facilities for better equipped mortuaries, notably in Busia County, due to a lack of adequate services in Busia, Namayingo, Bugiri, and Tororo districts.
Busia, operating two mortuaries at Masafu Hospital and Busia Health Centre IV, finds itself constrained by limited capacity, with both facilities accommodating only 15 dead bodies simultaneously. Locals, like Mr. Phabiano Nyiringango, describe the conditions as subpar, noting that the mortuary spaces resemble small rooms where bodies are packed closely.
Residents, faced with insufficient space and a lack of preservatives in local mortuaries, opt for cross-border solutions. Mr. Charles Itogot shared his experience, stating, “The mortuaries in Masafu Hospital and Busia Health Centre IV lacked space and preservatives. So we went to St Francis Funeral Home in neighbouring Kenya.”
This trend is attributed, in part, to Kenyan cultural practices of preserving the deceased for a week or two before burial, fostering better facilities. Conversely, some Ugandan communities keep bodies in homes while planning funeral arrangements.
Dr. Matthias Wabwire Panyako, the Busia District health officer, acknowledged the Ministry of Health’s requirements for mortuaries, including cold rooms, sufficient space, and qualified staff. However, both mortuaries in Busia reportedly lack cold rooms and operate in cramped conditions.
Due to the absence of cold rooms, the only available option for body preservation is formalin, a disinfectant and preservative. Yet, Masafu Hospital and Busia Health Centre IV are reported to be currently lacking formalin, forcing relatives to pay Shs70,000 to procure it from Kenya.
At the Busia border, bodies are transported across Kenya, either through porous borders or the main border. Ambulance driver Mr. Moses Ouma revealed, “Each week, I take more than four dead bodies to funeral homes in Kenya for preservation.”
Interestingly, Ugandans face higher preservation costs in Kenya compared to locals, with Ms. Roselyn Barasa, the director of St Francis Funeral Home, stating that her facility receives “not less than 50 bodies from Uganda every month.” The Funeral Home, operational since last year, has become a crucial alternative for those seeking advanced embalming services.
