By URN
There was a sombre mood at the burial of Eunice Chimatala, the first Ugandan resident believed to have died of Coronavirus disease. The victim, a 34-year-old mother who died at Joy Hospice Centre in Mbale on Wednesday was laid to rest on Thursday at Sisongfwa village in Namisindwa district.
Most of the locals were barred from accessing the burial ground as the Health Ministry's burial team from Mbale Regional Referral Hospital took charge of the ceremony. Police were deployed to block access for all unauthorised personnel.
The burial team, all dressed in protective gear, arrived in the area early in the morning and immediately embarked on the task, witnessed by a small number of people standing a distance from the grave. Those who were allowed near the grave included her children, husband and a few members of the Mbale district surveillance team.
Namisindwa Resident District Commissioner Kigai Kimoto said that they deployed police at the burial ground to ensure that Standard Operating Procedures were followed by members of the community to prevent further infections.
He added that although tension is high among the residents of Namisindwa, they are waiting for the government to pronounce itself on the result before they can take any step as a district. The Ministry of Health later confirmed that Chimatala succumbed to Coronavirus related infections.
Robert Kisenge, the LCIII Chairperson of Namabya Sub County said that residents of the sub-county are worried after hearing about the death. He said that the government should come in and ensure that all those who were in contact with the late are quarantined but also increase the enforcement of the guidelines for preventing the spread COVID-19.
Richard Ssituma, the Gombolola Internal Security Officer-GISO of Namabya sub-county told Uganda Radio Network that deceased's neighbours have deserted their homes in panic.
