“Dogs Didnt Eat Body Of COVID 19 Victim-” Namusindwa RDC

BY AMUYA LYDIA OMECH

NAMUSINDWA, Uganda|SHIFTMEDIA|Uganda’s first COVID 19 death victim was not eaten by dogs as alleged by the Namisindwa District Woman MP, the Resident District Commissioner Kigai Mweso Wamoto has clarified.

Kigai dismissed the legislator’s claims as baseless and malicious.

Eunice Chimatala, who succumbed to COVID-19 at Joy Hospice centre in Mbale City last week was buried hurriedly on Thursday under tight security in Sisongofwa village in Namabya sub-county.   But on Tuesday, Namisindwa Woman MP Grace Watuwa told parliament that the body of late Chimatala was badly buried and that the entire area was stinking. 

After her allegations Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Rebecca Kagada ordered the Minister of Health to immediately dispatch a team to ascertain the truth and ensure a decent burial for Chimatala.

Kadaga also wondered why Namusindwa a border district was yet to get government facemask as announced by President Museveni.

Addressing the press in Namusindwa, the RDC said that what happened was a crack in the grave due to heavy rains after the burial.

Kigai said crack in the grave was due to the area’s poor soils coupled by heavy rains. “It is not true that dogs ate the body. There was a crack in the grave. A team of health experts came in from Mbale and have sealed that crack,” said the RDC.

So far close to 100 persons have been quarantined after having contacts with the deceased. Kigai said the search for more contacts is still ongoing though reports indicate that most people in the village have deserted for fear.

Uganda’s confirmed coronavirus cases currently stand at 1,140 with 2 deaths and 1,028 recoveries as of July 29, 2020.