Friends and customers at Uncle Sam’s Place pork joint in Komamboga, Wakiso district have secured space at Bukasa Cemetery in Kira Municipality where they are scheduled to bury the body of Emily Nyinaneza, a 21-year-old bar waitress who was killed in a bomb blast on Saturday, October 23, 2021. 

No relative had shown up by Tuesday to claim Nyinaneza’s body, but friends and her former customers gathered at Kanyanya-Komamboga at the home of Paddy Mulumba, her former landlord for the vigil.

The police allowed them to pick the body from the City Mortuary and was taken to the place where she has been staying with a friend. 

The area LC1 chairperson, Michael Buyondo said they tried to inquire from friends whether the deceased had relatives, and nobody could tell. He said the only information they had was that she came from Rwanda but did not have information about her exact home and relatives. 

Sheilla Kyomugisha, the defense secretary said many of her workmates and friends did not want to discuss matters relating to her private life. 

She said many feared that they would be arrested by the security if they talked to the media. Her landlord, Paddy Mulumba said she had stayed at his place for four years, but she was introduced by her friend, one Nakawooya with whom they have been sharing the rental dues. 

Some of the friends and former workmates of Emily Nyinaneza at her residence in Komamboga

He said he allowed them to organize the vigil but refused to keep the body indoors. He said they fundraised money and bought a coffin and transport to take the body. 

“So many of her customers and friends stayed overnight, she was a free girl and related well with people,” he said. 

The secretary for women affairs, Nalongo Kalule Nanyonjo said the burial was scheduled to take place on Tuesday at 2 pm in Bukasa Cemetery.  

Michael Buyondo, LC1 Chairman Komamboga

Musa Kirya, one of the residents said many were still in shock and fear after losing their colleague. He said previously they had reported incidents of insecurity and appealed to the police to provide enough security in the area. Meanwhile, the police have transferred one of the survivors of the Komamboga bomb blast, Rose Nakisita from the Doctors' Clinic in Mpererwe where she had been admitted with severe injuries. 

Sheilla Kyomugisha, Defence Secretary Lc1 Komamboga

Nakisita had appealed for help saying she did not have money to meet the medical bills and other needs since she had worked at Uncle Sam's Place for a short period. But security officials later came and took her to an unknown facility.