COVID 19-Is Kisoro ready to Embrace Funeral Management Services?

Special Report:

Ugandans have been grief stricken by the Skyrocketing figures of people testing positive for COVID 19 along with the people who have died due to the deadly virus.

It is a safe bet to say that, after the month of June 2021, we know of someone dearest to us who has either succumbed to COVID 19 or has a relationship with someone who has experienced profound loss during this dark period in time.

Whether it is COVID 19 or some other health related complications, the death toll globally and locally has forever changed the way we look at the world.

American Business magnate John Davidson Rockefeller, once said, “There is Opportunity in every disaster“, and true to the statement, funeral management services have managed to stay afloat, even breakeven during such precarious times.

Managing the Dead during COVID 19

The concept of having someone else manage all your funeral arrangements in Kisoro is an idea few were willing to embrace, not until the pandemic came along, forcing people to adjust their way of thinking.

According to the Ministry of Health guidelines on prevention of Infection during Burials, Vigils and funeral services have been discouraged.

Not more than 20 people are allowed to attend a burial while the time for a burial ceremony should not exceed more than 2 hours.

Social distancing of at least 2 meters from each other during a burial ceremony along with the other Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) has made it necessary to involve professionals to avoid further spread of the deadly virus.

Innocent Jachan, team leader of Funeral Supplies Uganda says though the profession of being a pallbearer is often frowned upon due to misconceptions from the public, it is very noble work to assist families send off their loved ones in a dignified way.

Jachan, who was formerly a video and audio editor, says the Pandemic has been really hard on families who are no longer allowed to mourn for their loved ones because of Government restrictions.

“We need to be sympathetic to the families that have lost their loved ones but at the same time, we need to be strong and maintain a certain level of decorum which some people have wrongly perceived as being cold and inhuman”, said Jachan.

Often dressed in Black suits, Pallbearers can easily be recognized in the crowd because they will be standing next to the coffin and never leave its side until it is lowered 6 feet under.

He further said that since the Pandemic started in the Country, his team have conducted over 150 burials across the country. He notes that the biggest challenge they continue to face is people in the communities who still wish to take the lead in the burial procession, even at the risk of their own lives.

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Arthur Mwiine, the Kisoro branch manager says, after completing his course in Motor vehicle mechanics, he was stranded because there were no jobs. He notes that he never imagined he would become a pallbearer but three years down the road, he has no regrets.

Mwiine says Funeral supplies opened its branch in Kisoro in April 2021 and for close to two months nobody ever bothered to walk into the shop to make inquiries but after June 2021, business has really picked up.

“We managed six burials in the month of June. People often come to inquire about Coffins and we do our best to meet our clients’ expectations and budget“, said Mwiine.

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Decent Sendoff for 24 year law Student Daniel Rugero

The family of Vincent and Florence Niyonzima of Burere Village, Chihe parish, Nyakinama Sub County, Kisoro district, over the weekend said their final goodbyes to their son, Daniel Rugero who was involved in a hit and run accident died due to internal injuries to his body.

The late Rugero was a nephew to politician and businessman Joseph Muhozi. At the time of his death, he was a third year law Student at Kampala International University, Kansanga campus.

In an emotional sendoff, eulogies from family and friends revealed that Rugero, first went missing on June 26^th 2021 and his body was recovered four days later, thanks to a social media message by one Nyangolian Elly, that read, “A speeding drone knocked dead this young soul early this morning as he was on his way to Namboole Stadium for training, off Jinja highway. MHSRIP”

Mr. Vicent Niyonzima, the registrar of titles Kabale Ministerial Zone in the Ministry of land, housing and urban planning and father to the late Rugero said his son was a beautiful child who always managed to put on a smile no matter how tough things got.

A tearful Niyonzima thanked God for the time they had with their son.

“I had no issues with you my son, I had no issues with you and may you rest in Peace“, said Niyonzima

Florence Niyonzima, mother to Rugero thanked Muhozi brothers, Moses and Serugo Elias who did everything humanly possible to assist her find her son before and after they learnt of his untimely death.

She described her son as a joyful young man whom she loved so dearly.

“The Lord has taken you my son and my best friend but I thank God that we found your body and we have brought you home“, Florence said

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The siblings, led by Ceila Niyonzima described their brother as someone who loved to dance, play sports and was an avid reader.

“Our brother has died too young and too soon but he was such a good person, I am sure he is now one of God’s angels looking down on us,” Ceila said.

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Friend of the family Commissioner of Prisons, Logistics and management Hillary Bisanga delivered condolence messages from Together in Development Association (TIDA) and Ubuntu Association, which are comprised of Bafumbira living and working outside Kisoro, who said the death of Rugero was a huge blow to the fraternity and to the entire country.