The daughter to the man who had died of Coronavirus but the casket was forced open by mourners before burial has spoken out on the incident.
This week, a video went viral of mourners who grabbed the casket from the burial and forced it open to ascertain the contents.
Many have since concluded that the coffin was empty and castigated the Ministry of Health over the same.
However, speaking to the Nile Post, Immaculate Masika the incident happened at Bwisa village, Bwera sub-county in Kasese district after the death of her father, Franco Bwambale Kabwangana who was also the area LC 1 chairman.
“He had suffered from diabetes and was admitted in Bwera Hospital on the June, 8, 2021 before being referred to Mbarara Hospital two days later on June,10,2021,”Masika said.
She noted that the family preferred to take their dad to Mayanja Memorial hospital from where he was tested for Coronavirus and turned out positive of the virus.
“He died three days later at the hospital. Because by the time of his death he had tested positive, as a family were alerted, together with Bwera hospital to prepare for a professional burial.”
The deceased’s daughter said that the burial team from the district that brought the body included people not known the mourners at the village causing chaos, especially from youths and drunkards who demanded that the casket be forced open to ascertain whether Kabwangana’s body was inside.
According to Masika, this is where chaos started and the casket was grabbed from the burial team, adding that later, it was confirmed that the deceased’s body was inside the casket.
“Upon opening the coffin, they realized the body had not been properly wrapped. They however confirmed the body was there,” she said.
She added that police later intervened and the burial was conducted but dismissed social media reports that the coffin was empty.
However, according to the Ministry of Health guidelines, only designated burial teams are supposed to touch the body of person who has died of Covid, contrary to what happened at the scene captured in the viral video.
Many of the health Standard Operating Procedures like social distancing, wearing of masks and burial being attended by more than 20 people.
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