Uganda: Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Lacks Its Own Mortuary, Relies On Small Must Facility

What the report says

Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in western Uganda is operating without its own mortuary and continues to depend on the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) pathology mortuary, according to a Nile Post report distributed by AllAfrica. The article says the university facility was built years ago for a much smaller need and now has ageing cold-storage equipment and limited space.

Acting Hospital Director Dr Deus Twesigye told Nile Post that the hospital sends bodies to the university mortuary because it has no independent facility of its own. He said the available refrigerators are old and that repeated attempts to repair them have not solved the problem. The report says the mortuary handles deaths from the hospital as well as cases from across the wider Western Region, including road accidents and drownings, adding to the strain.

The issue drew renewed attention during a joint inspection led by Dr Warren Naamara of the State House Health Monitoring Unit. The inspection reportedly found strong odour and raised hygiene concerns around the site. Dr Naamara said both the city and the hospital need dedicated mortuary services and urged local authorities to plan for modern facilities.

The story highlights a broader public-health and dignity concern: when mortuary capacity is too limited, families, health workers and nearby communities can all be affected. The report also notes calls for temporary upgrades to the current MUST facility while longer-term funding and land allocation are pursued for a separate city mortuary.