Nansana, Uganda: A grieving mother in Nansana Municipality was left in disbelief and utter shock after a thief allegedly stole a suitcase containing the body of her five-month-old baby while she was travelling home for burial.
Kimuli Jjumba, a resident of Ngalonnyambe Cell in Gombe, had just been discharged from Mulago Hospital following the death of her infant, identified as Paulina Namigade.
According to Ms Jjumba, financial constraints forced her to improvise transport arrangements for the baby’s body, as she could not afford proper funeral transport.
She said she purchased a suitcase, placed the body inside, and boarded a commuter taxi heading towards her home village.
The journey, however, took a tragic turn when the taxi reached Matugga.
Jjumba told local paper (Bukedde) that as she briefly stepped out of the vehicle to load airtime onto her phone, the taxi had already driven off with her luggage still inside.
“I tried to chase after it but couldn’t catch it,” she said, identifying the vehicle as a Toyota Hiace, registration number UBL 104Z.
Suspected Theft
Jjumba, however, suspected that one of the passengers seated next to her may have taken the suitcase, possibly believing it contained valuable items. Instead, she said, the individual may have unknowingly taken the remains of her deceased child.
The incident has left the family stranded and unable to proceed with burial arrangements.
The distraught mother has since appealed to the public and authorities to help trace the missing suitcase and recover the body so the child can be accorded a proper burial.
She urged anyone with information about the taxi or the missing luggage to report to the nearest police station.
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