Four die during Basoga burial
May 08, 2003
The Lusoga proverb, “Omubedde tajja yenka,†(The mighty don’t fall alone), came true during the burial of information minister Basoga Nsadhu
The Lusoga proverb, “Omubedde tajja yenka,†(The mighty don’t fall alone), came true during the burial of information minister Basoga Nsadhu, writes Moses Nampala.
Four children died from suffocation during the funeral at Kalitumba, Busiki in Iganga district on Sunday.
Robert Nsadhu and Daniel Gubi Nsadhu, brothers to Basoga, said they saw panting women seeking help as their toddlers fainted.
“Their children slipped into convulsions due to the congestion created by the mammoth crowd. Efforts to assist them were impossible as the women could not be traced moments later,†said Robert.
They said the children were between one and a half to two and a half years.
Iganga district Police commander Elisam Mugisha said he had learnt of the deaths. Fred Maganda, a bodaboda cyclist at Namutumba town, said he transported one of the bereaved mothers.
“A mother carrying a toddler approached me and asked to be rushed to Namutumba Health centre. As soon as we reached there the child passed away,†Maganda said on Monday.
Even on this sad occasion, some ‘mourners’ exploited the commotion to steal the minister’s property. They looted clothing, carpets and kitchen utensils.
“It was the cook who first aroused our attention, when they announced the theft of the big sauce pans.
A frantic search for the utensils yielded nothing. We were later to learn that all the plates, cups, jerricans had also vanished,†Nsadhu said.
The brothers said mourners who remained behind did not get food, contradicting another Kisoga proverb, Oluganda kulya olujja endhala tirwiira (kinship is noted in eating, a hungry person may not return).
Four children died from suffocation during the funeral at Kalitumba, Busiki in Iganga district on Sunday.
Robert Nsadhu and Daniel Gubi Nsadhu, brothers to Basoga, said they saw panting women seeking help as their toddlers fainted.
“Their children slipped into convulsions due to the congestion created by the mammoth crowd. Efforts to assist them were impossible as the women could not be traced moments later,†said Robert.
They said the children were between one and a half to two and a half years.
Iganga district Police commander Elisam Mugisha said he had learnt of the deaths. Fred Maganda, a bodaboda cyclist at Namutumba town, said he transported one of the bereaved mothers.
“A mother carrying a toddler approached me and asked to be rushed to Namutumba Health centre. As soon as we reached there the child passed away,†Maganda said on Monday.
Even on this sad occasion, some ‘mourners’ exploited the commotion to steal the minister’s property. They looted clothing, carpets and kitchen utensils.
“It was the cook who first aroused our attention, when they announced the theft of the big sauce pans.
A frantic search for the utensils yielded nothing. We were later to learn that all the plates, cups, jerricans had also vanished,†Nsadhu said.
The brothers said mourners who remained behind did not get food, contradicting another Kisoga proverb, Oluganda kulya olujja endhala tirwiira (kinship is noted in eating, a hungry person may not return).