The Budaka district Covid 19 task force is in panic following reports that relatives of victims who succumb to covid 19 are exhuming bodies at night in order to accord them befitting burials.
This unfortunate report was confirmed today 1st July 2021 by the RDC Budaka, Tom Chesol during the 40’ths district task force meeting.
The meeting had convened to among others review the progress of the district in combating the pandemic and receive reports from different IPs on their intended support towards the noble cause.
According to Mr. Chesol, through their security intelligence they got a tip of from concerned residents that relatives of the deceased are stealthily exhuming bodies deep in the night.
He named Budaka town council and Kachomo sub county as some of the areas where the act is being done.
Sources told security that the relatives claim they are tormented by the spirits of the dead claiming that they are not buried well and that they feel heat with the polythene bags they are buried with.
Some relatives believe that their departed loved ones didn’t die of covid 19 but witchcraft.
The RDC condemned the act with a call on LCs to stepup their intelligence warning that the perpetrators of this vice will be punished severely.
ASP. Pauline Ahaisibwe the acting DPC said police deployed after getting the tip from concerned residents adding that they are hunting for the suspects who are behind the move.
She declined to reveal the identities of the suspects saying this will jeopardize their investigation.
The Budaka township LC 1 Chairperson Abdul Rashid confirmed the development saying one of his Step Son he only identified as Kassim had mobilized other relatives to exhume the body of his brother which was buried last Friday on grounds that the late did not die of covid but witchcraft.
Jenfa naloongo Secretary womens affairs Budaka town council condemns the vice saying it undermines the effort government is putting to combat the spread of the deadly disease.
This comes at the time when the district is still struggling to contain the likely spread of the disease which has killed 6 people.
Nasur Masaba the district covid 19 surveillance officer noted that as of 29th June 2021, the district has registered 168 cumulative positive cases,5 under ICU,157 under home based care management,56 recoveries while 6 lost the battle.
According to Nasur although the district recorded 6 deaths, they are overwhelmed by several covid 19 deaths which has currently passed 20 cases from outside the district.
Mr. Emmanuel Pajje the district chairperson implored the district health team to improve on case management.
The chairman decried how no one bothered to monitor his health condition the time he voluntary announced that he had contracted the virus and was put under home management.
Budaka sub county councilor George Mukamba who doubles as secretary for health and education noted that cases of domestic violence have shot up mainly at Budaka Sub county since June 18, when President Museveni instituted a 42-day national lockdown to check the spread of the second wave of Covid-19.
Credit: Eastnews
