By Eumu Emmanuel
Ashraf Bamusungwire, a 24-year-old man from Nakasongola, has returned home 38 days after being pronounced dead and buried following a fatal accident. His reappearance just two days before his scheduled funeral rites, known as *duwa* in the Muslim tradition, has left both relatives and the community in shock.
At the end of September, Bamusungwire was reported dead after a tragic accident at Migyera in Nakasongola District, where he had gone for casual labor. In the wake of his death, his family organized for an ambulance to transport his body, held a burial, and began preparations for *duwa* when he unexpectedly showed up on Friday.
Upon his return, Bamusungwire was welcomed by his sister and treated with traditional rituals that included being sprinkled with water from a calabash, as well as the offering of raw coffee berries, two goats, and a lamb. Prayers were conducted by the local Imam and the clan head before he was handed over to his mother, Monica Nangobi, who embraced him in tears of joy.
A close friend of the family had initially informed them of the tragedy, prompting them to make funeral arrangements, including selling part of Bamusungwire’s land to cover costs. “We thought we lost him for good,” said Nangobi. “When we were told he had died, we did what any family would do.”
It has now become likely that the family buried the wrong individual, as the only distinguishing feature used to identify Bamusungwire was his circumcision, due to the severe damage to his face and body from the accident. “The deceased was identified by circumcision because the face was badly damaged,” Nangobi explained.
Regarding the mistakenly buried body, Rashid Kipwapwa, the clan leader, expressed a perspective rooted in faith: “It was Allah’s wish to find a fellow Muslim and give him a proper burial rather than leave him to rot. We will treat this individual as our brother in Islam until his family claims him.” He emphasized the Islamic duty to provide a dignified burial, saying, “Allah sent us this body, and we believe that a Muslim is a brother to another Muslim, so we honored Allah’s wish by burying him as our brother.”
This unusual turn of events raises profound questions about identity, loss, and the bonds of community, leaving many in Nakasongola to reflect on the depths of their faith and humanity.**”Dead” Man in Nakasongola Returns Home 38 Days After Burial, Residents Demand Condolences**
