Mbarara police have launched an investigation into the alleged theft of dead bodies by two individuals, Robert Mucunguzi and Andrew Ainomugisha. Mucunguzi is an employee at Urban Funeral Services while Ainomugisha works for Miles Funeral Services. The suspects were arrested at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital after hospital security witnessed them moving from ward to ward in search of potential clients who had lost their loved ones.
The investigation has revealed that the suspects had been targeting bodies of deceased patients before they were delivered to the hospital mortuary. They would persuade the relatives to snatch the body from the ward and take it straight to the funeral home. For their services, the suspects claimed to be paid a commission of Sh.200,000.
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Dr. Raymond Atwine, the head of the Pathology Department at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, blamed the funeral homes in Mbarara City for this illegal practice. He explained that when a patient dies in the hospital ward, a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) is issued to accompany the body to the mortuary for identification. Failure to follow these procedures can lead to difficulties in processing crucial documents for the issuance of a death certificate.
Dr. Raymond also warned about the danger of snatching bodies from hospital wards without proper preparation. This can put the general public at risk of contracting infectious diseases that the deceased patient may have had.
The suspects have been taken to Mbarara Central Police and are currently assisting with investigations. Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi Region Police Spokesperson, condemned the funeral homes’ actions and expressed optimism that the ongoing crackdown would bring them to justice.
Dr. Celestine Barigye, the Hospital Director of Mbarara Referral Hospital, clarified that mortuary services are free of charge and assured the public that they are taking action to address these allegations.
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Anyone with information related to fraud, corruption, or other illicit activities is encouraged to contact the authorities for further investigation.
