By Obbo Yusuf
A disagreement has emerged between the Uganda Police Force in Iganga District and the management of Iganga General Hospital following a directive restricting police from taking unclaimed bodies to the hospital mortuary.
The controversy arose after the hospital management posted a notice at the mortuary instructing police not to deliver unclaimed bodies to the facility. Instead, the notice directed officers to transport such bodies to the Regional Police Surgeon in Mbale.
The directive has reportedly angered police officers, who argue that the decision could disrupt investigations and create unnecessary challenges in handling accident victims and other cases requiring post-mortem examinations.
According to sources within the police, several officers questioned the basis of the directive, saying the hospital mortuary is a public facility intended to serve the community.
“Who owns the mortuary? Do we own any of the dead bodies? As police, we collect bodies from accident scenes, crime scenes and other incidents involving people whose identities are often unknown. Our responsibility is to preserve the bodies while investigations continue and as relatives are traced,” one officer, who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media, said.
The officers further argued that blocking police from accessing the mortuary could delay investigations, affect the preservation of bodies, and inconvenience grieving families waiting to identify their loved ones.
They noted that many criminal investigations depend on timely post-mortem examinations, adding that any delay in preserving bodies could compromise evidence and hinder the administration of justice.
“No one knows where death will find them. The hospital mortuary is a public service, and denying police access poses a significant risk to investigations and public safety,” another officer said.
The notice displayed at the hospital reads:
“All unclaimed bodies will not be allowed or received at the Iganga General Hospital Mortuary. Kindly take these unclaimed bodies to the Regional Police Surgeon in Mbale. – Management.”
The directive has sparked concern among residents and security officials, with some questioning whether the Regional Police Surgeon’s facility has the capacity to handle all unclaimed bodies from the Greater Iganga area.
By press time, officials from Iganga General Hospital had not publicly explained the reasons behind the directive, while police officers were calling for dialogue between hospital management, the Ministry of Health and the Uganda Police Force to find a solution that protects both public health services and criminal investigations.
The dispute is expected to attract attention from district leaders and health authorities, as stakeholders seek clarity on the management and use of public mortuary facilities.
