By Flavia Ajok
Residents of Kijura Central Cell in Central Division, Masindi Municipality have been left in shock after a man they believed dead resurfaced alive during his burial preparations.
Godwin Baguma, who is reported to have a mental health condition, had gone missing three weeks ago.
Yakobo Kamuturaki, Baguma’s father says they received information over the weekend that police had recovered a decomposing body from a sugarcane plantation in Kisanja Cell. The family later identified the body at Masindi Hospital mortuary as Baguma and began burial arrangements.
However, Kamuturaki says they were shocked after receiving reports that Baguma was alive in Kihanguzi Village, Labongo Sub-county.
Kamuturaki says the family had mistakenly taken the body of another person, and after confirming that their son is alive, they have decided to exhume the body and return it to Masindi Hospital mortuary.
He expressed joy upon finding his son alive, noting that after burial announcements were aired on radio, and they received information confirming that Baguma was still alive.
Birungi, Baguma’s sister, says they were alerted by a family friend who had hosted him overnight, prompting them to rush and pick him up. Despite the costs incurred in burial preparations, she says the family is grateful he is alive.
Florence Bikorwa, a resident, says mourners had gathered for burial only to be surprised when Baguma resurfaced alive.
Abdul Musinguzi, another resident, says he was equally shocked after earlier reports indicated Baguma had been killed and his body dumped at the mortuary.
Patrick Kusiima, one of those involved in the exhumation, says Baguma was found alive in Kihanguzi, and the identity of the exhumed body remains unknown.
Meanwhile, Solomon Mugisa, the Albertine North Community Liaison Officer and acting regional police spokesperson, confirms that police recovered a decomposing body last Friday from a sugarcane plantation and took it to Masindi Hospital mortuary.
By press time, the family was preparing to hold a thanksgiving ceremony following Baguma’s return.
