Residents of Masindi Municipality were left in shock after a man who had been announced dead resurfaced alive, just hours after a body believed to be his had been buried.
Godwin Baguma, a resident of Kijura Central Cell in Central Division, had reportedly gone missing for weeks, causing anxiety among family members and neighbours.
According to the family, Baguma, who is said to have a mental health condition, disappeared without informing anyone, prompting a frantic search.
The situation took a tragic turn over the weekend when the family received information that police had recovered a decomposing body from a sugarcane plantation in Kisanja Cell on Friday.
The body was taken to Masindi Hospital mortuary, where announcements were made for people with missing persons to help with identification.
Baguma’s father, Yakobo Kamuturaki, said after receiving information on Sunday, he sent his sons to the mortuary to verify whether the body belonged to his missing son and after viewing the remains, they returned and confirmed it was Baguma.
Following this confirmation, the family quickly organized burial arrangements due to the advanced state of decomposition.
News of Baguma’s alleged death spread rapidly throughout Kijura Central Cell and neighboring areas, drawing mourners to the home.
However, what began as a solemn mourning ceremony quickly turned into disbelief and confusion as preparations for the final rites were underway on Monday, reports began circulating that Baguma had been spotted alive in Kihanguzi village in Labongo Sub-county, Masindi District.
Baguma’s sister, Ms Jane Birungi said family members rushed to the area, only to find Baguma alive.
Baguma was immediately brought back home, bringing the ongoing funeral ceremony to an abrupt halt.
Police have since confirmed the incident and launched investigations to establish the identity of the body that was mistakenly buried.
Solomon Mugisa, the Albertine North Regional Community Liaison Officer and acting police spokesperson, said the body exhumed and its return to the mortuary at Masindi Hospital.
A MAN RESURFACES AFTER HIS BURIAL
