Bugiri General Hospital is grappling with the challenge of preserving five unclaimed bodies following a tragic road accident that claimed 13 lives on Sunday night at Lwaba, along the Bugiri–Tororo highway.
According to hospital authorities, the facility lacks mortuary refrigerators and has run out of preservatives, raising concerns about public health and service disruption as the bodies begin to decompose.
The accident involved a taxi (commonly known as a drone) with registration number UBQ 772A en route to Tororo from Bugiri, a trailer KBM 157S/ZF 3160, and an unidentified motorcycle.
It is reported that the trailer, while attempting to avoid hitting the motorcycle, lost its container, which detached and crashed into the taxi—killing ten people on the spot.
Two others, suspected to be on the motorcycle, were also crushed. Another victim died later at the hospital, bringing the total number of fatalities to 13.
Dr. Anthony Wamasyuwu, the hospital’s Medical Superintendent, expressed concern over the lack of storage facilities for the bodies.
“We have no mortuary refrigerators, and we’ve run out of formalin and other preservatives. The state of the bodies is deteriorating, and this is likely to affect patients coming in for other services,” Dr. Wamasyuwu said.
He urged members of the public, especially those who may have lost relatives, to visit the hospital and help with identification.
He emphasized the need for identification documents and the ability to describe the deceased by physical features.
“As management, we have allowed two more days for families to claim the bodies. After that, we will be forced to conduct burials in the hospital cemetery to prevent further decomposition,” he added.
Mortuary attendant Peter Egesa appealed to the government to equip the facility with cold storage units.
“This hospital is along a busy highway, and we regularly handle such tragic incidents. Without refrigerators, we face serious challenges preserving the dead, which puts pressure on other hospital services,” Mr. Egesa said.
The hospital has called for immediate intervention to improve its mortuary facilities and ensure dignity for the deceased while supporting bereaved families.