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The facility’s appalling sanitation has driven some neighbors to vacate their homes
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By Our Reporter
HOIMA — Medical workers in Hoima City are calling for the closure of the city mortuary, citing its dire condition and the health risks it poses to nearby residents and businesses. Located in Kiryatete suburb, the mortuary is surrounded by restaurants, shops, and residential houses, amplifying the concerns of those living and working nearby.
Alarming state of the facility
Benard Kumakech, in charge of Police Health Centre III in Hoima City, described the mortuary as severely neglected. It lacks basic amenities such as running water, electricity, and refrigeration. Vandals have also destroyed its shuttles and perimeter fence.
“The mortuary is overwhelmed with bodies because it serves the entire Hoima City and some nearby districts,” Kumakech said, adding that complaints to city authorities about its poor state have gone unaddressed.
Kumakech highlighted the facility’s appalling sanitation, which has driven some neighbors to vacate their homes. “The smell is unbearable, and the lack of an attendant means no one is there to manage it properly. This facility needs to be relocated immediately,” he stated.
Health risks and resident concerns
Medical worker Lilian Tumwesige warned that the mortuary is a serious health hazard. “It’s not a proper mortuary—it’s a dumping house for bodies. Some remain inside for up to a week. This is unacceptable, especially given its proximity to people’s homes and businesses,” she said.
On average, the mortuary holds about seven unclaimed bodies weekly, most of which are victims of road accidents or robberies. However, the lack of cemetery space has compounded the problem, with some bodies buried on the limited land surrounding the mortuary.
Residents like Salama Kabagenyi have voiced their frustrations, urging the City Council to build a perimeter wall to separate the mortuary from nearby homes. “The stench is unbearable. Sometimes dogs break into the facility at night and exhume bodies. We are suffering,” she said.
Hoima Mortuary
City leaders admit crisis
Hoima City Mayor Bryan Kaboyo acknowledged the gravity of the situation. He said the city is struggling to manage unclaimed bodies due to a lack of burial space.
“The public cemetery is full. Unclaimed bodies sometimes remain in the mortuary for up to a month before burial,” Kaboyo admitted, adding that the facility does not meet the standards of a proper mortuary.
“A functional morgue should have attendants, preservation chemicals, and refrigeration, which we don’t have. We urgently need government and donor support to construct a modern mortuary,” he said.
Kaboyo also appealed to neighboring residents to be patient as the city explores alternative burial sites and solutions to improve the mortuary.
Resident commissioner’s warning
Badru Mugabi, the Resident City Commissioner for Hoima, revealed that the city council spends about UGX 300,000 to bury each unclaimed body.
“The situation is critical. Recently, we had to intervene when angry residents attempted to carry a decomposing body from the mortuary to the mayor’s office as a protest,” Mugabi said.
City leaders are now under pressure to act swiftly to address the worsening conditions at the mortuary, which they agree poses a severe risk to public health and safety.
Torch Media Africa
