A man believed to have died and been buried over a month ago has astonished his family and community by returning just days before his final funeral rites, known as “duwa” in Islam.
Ashraf Bamusungwire, 24, was declared dead at the end of September following a fatal accident in Migyera, Nakasongola District, where he had reportedly gone for casual work. Relatives arranged for an ambulance to transport his body, conducted his burial, and were preparing for his duwa when he reappeared on Friday.
Arriving with his sister, Bamusungwire underwent a traditional ritual involving water in a calabash, raw coffee berries, two goats, and a lamb. The area Imam and the clan head led prayers before he was reunited with his mother, Monica Nangobi, who welcomed him with tears of joy.
The family now suspects they may have buried the wrong individual, as the only identifying feature relied upon was circumcision. The body had been severely disfigured in the accident, making other physical features unrecognizable.
Reflecting on the burial of an unidentified person in the family cemetery, Rashid Kipwapwa, the clan leader, noted that they saw it as a religious duty to provide a respectful burial for a fellow Muslim. They intend to continue honoring the deceased in their cemetery until his family comes forward.