Burial Trip Disrupted as Vehicle Breakdowns Cause Panic on Kampala–Masaka Road

A family transporting the body of a relative for burial in western Uganda was left distressed after their vehicle repeatedly broke down under unclear circumstances, leading to panic and unusual reactions among mourners.

The incident occurred along the Kampala–Masaka Highway as the family travelled from Nabbingo to Kisoro to bury Moses Ahimbisibwe, 46.

According to family members, the journey began at around 7pm without any issues. However, shortly after departure, the vehicle—a Mitsubishi Fuso Rosa—developed intermittent mechanical problems before breaking down completely in Lukaya in the early hours of the morning.

“We left Nabbingo when the vehicle was in good condition, but after a short distance, it began failing intermittently until it completely broke down in Lukaya,” said Geoffrey Tibihika, a family member overseeing burial arrangements.

When the vehicle failed to restart, mourners removed the body and placed it by the roadside, drawing the attention of passersby and residents.

Ahimbisibwe, a boda boda rider, had reportedly been battling diabetes and high blood pressure before his death at Kiruddu National Referral Hospital.

Tibihika added that the deceased had previously made remarks suggesting he would “cause trouble” after his death, a statement that unsettled some mourners. As confusion and anxiety grew, some members of the group began attributing the repeated breakdowns to supernatural causes.

In the tension that followed, a section of mourners struck the corpse with sticks, describing it as a cultural response to the unusual situation.

Police, led by Lukaya Division Police Commander Cyrus Besimire, intervened and calmed the situation, after which the body was returned to the vehicle.

“The situation was brought under control, and we advised the family to remain calm as arrangements were made to continue the journey,” Besimire said.

The journey resumed under police escort, with boda boda riders and residents accompanying the vehicle. However, it broke down again at Bbajja and later at Mukoko, further delaying the trip.

Police instructed the driver to move the vehicle off the main road to avoid disrupting traffic, as investigations into the repeated mechanical failures continued.

Local leaders, including Lukaya defence secretary Isa Male Wasswa, expressed mixed reactions. While some attributed the incident to mechanical issues, others believed there could be supernatural factors involved.

“This is not something we see every day. People are trying to make sense of it in different ways,” Wasswa said.

By press time, the family was still making efforts to ensure the body reaches Kisoro for burial.