The family of late Sarah Eperu has accused of the FDC Najjanankumbi faction of stealing her body from Mulago mortuary to a funeral home in Mengo without their consent.
The deceased’s relative, Mr Ben Eperu told mourners during a memorial service at FDC Katonga offices in Kampala on Thursday that he was dismayed by the way the body of later Eperu was stolen from Mulago Hospital Mortuary.
“ We were supposed to hand over the body to A-Plus on Wednesday, so we took the changing dresses from home and went to Mulago mortuary at around 2pm.When we reached Mulago mortuary, we didn’t find the body there. When we asked at first, they didn’t give any good explanation, when we insisted, they told us that a group led by a member of Parliament from Soroti picked it to A-plus funeral home in Mengo yet we had the authentic documents,” Mr Eperu wondered.
“They cleared the bill, I think it was 300,000 and the body was leased to them. So our question is, how does the mortuary operate? We had the documents with us and we found that the body had been taken. A few minutes later, the same group called us that if you guys, the body is in Mengo but now we are wondering how you take a body that is not yours, not your cousin, not even a close friend of sort,”he added.
Eperu said when the management of A-plus learnt that they were not the late’s close relative, it blocked the group from taking it away from the ffuneral home.
“The body could not be released without the consent of the next of kin so we later realized that when they put it there, getting it from there was a problem for them because I understand their plan was to treat it from their and take it to Najjanankumbi,”Eperu said.
According to the relatives, Ms Eperu threated her last died on Sunday at life link hospital in Kyaliwajjala.
Her body was then taken to Mulago on that very night but found the place almost closed. They were advised to go back the following day to fill in the documents which they did.
The former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party President, Dr Kizza Besigye said the actions by the Najjanankumbi group was shocking.
Besigye said it is useless for people to scramble for a dead body, yet the deceased needed their support most when she was still battling Kidney complications.
”Sarah left us on Saturday, she is not here. This is her body and in case you have forgotten. If you want to help anybody you love, don’t wait for the body because he, or she will no longer be there. Nurse, treat, massage, comfort the person who is living,”Besigye said.
“You go Mulago to steal the body for what? Sarah was here all these years, if you wanted to interact with her, she was here all these years. You know what happened to her in her last moments, may be that is what weakened her most when she went to the party she loved most and could not get in. And she was scrupled yet they arrested her driver and beat the driver and locked him for a night in jail and she was left stranded there at the headquarters,”he added.
Besigye if people keep are only interested in buying expensive coffins, he will his Will saying that when he dies, his body should be set ablaze.
He said people should learn how to help and relate with others when they are still alive.
John Kikonyogo, FDC Najjanankumbi spokesperson said they had talked to the family members over the same.
“The FDC leadership had talked to the family before another group of our political friends came in and they had agreed and that is why they even went and hired Aplus, the party ( Najjanankumi) paid to handle the body even the family members went to choose the coffin now I don’t know how the statement changed,”Mr Kikonyogo said..
“We wanted Sarah to go peacefully. We are ready to sacrifice anything to ensure that she is buried peacefully. As FDC we have a way of sending off our leaders, so normally, we consult with a family and agree to bring the body to headquarter If it is their wish,” he added.
The service was attended by representatives of different political parties and MPS.
The let Eperu will be laid to rest in Kapil village Ngora on Saturday.