Kabale District, Uganda: Residents living around Kabale Regional Referral Hospital have voiced concerns to the hospital authorities regarding the heavy stench emanating from the decomposing bodies in the hospital mortuary.
One of the mortuary attendants, speaking on condition of anonymity, informed this publication that ten bodies have been in the mortuary since November 2023.
He emphasized that among the ten bodies, one was that of a 21-year-old Rwandan national, James Tuyizere, who passed away last month while in transit aboard a Horizon-bound bus with registration number UAM 218H, traveling from Kampala to Kisoro district.
Residents, particularly those in the business community, including Jacinta Uwimaana, who operates a hotel, and Elia Twasiima, expressed fear of contracting diseases due to the stench of decomposing bodies.
The Administrator of Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, Nelson Obote, declined to comment and referred our reporter to the Kabale Municipality Town Clerk, Justine Barekye.
The Deputy Town Clerk of Kabale Municipality, Eric Sunday, also refrained from commenting, citing his travel to Kampala.
The Resident District Commissioner of Kabale, Godfrey Nyakahuma, stated he was unaware of the unclaimed bodies. He mentioned directing municipal authorities to collaborate with hospital authorities before the end of the following day.
Kabale Municipal Council is currently without a cemetery. The town’s 60-year-old cemetery located in Mwanjari Ward in the Southern Division has been converted into a market.
