Calls for Justice As Senior Midwife is Buried – The Kampala Report

Judith Kyarisima, a senior midwife at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital who was found dead in River Rwizi has been buried.

On Wednesday, Police in the Rwizi Region retrieved the body of Kyarisima, from Rwizi after a one-week-long search for her, after she went missing from her home in Katete Central in Mbarara City South Division.

Police confirmed the arrest of four suspects, including Kyarisima’s husband, Justus Nkwasibwe, who was suspected of being involved in her disappearance and death.

The burial on Thursday attracted thousands of Nurses and Midwives. Annet Birungi, the Secretary General of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union asked for justice for Kyarisiima.

Birungi said that police should expedite investigations into Kyarisiima’s death and the report made public.

Juliet Ankunda, the Senior Nursing Officer at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, urged nurses and midwives to emulate Kyarisiima’s professionalism and avoid accepting bribes to assist patients.

Her body arrived from Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital escorted by a police vehicle. The police had a letter from Nkwasibwe directing that the Church of Uganda lead Kyarisiima’s burial service.

This was after the lead pastor of Daystar Cathedral Church, Bishop Nathan Ibrahim, accused the Church of Uganda of claiming Kyarisiima’s body, despite her converting to his Church, Ibrahim noted that the deceased had spent over 10 years praying at his church.

Ferediyana Tumusiime, the mother of the deceased, pleaded for the forgiveness of whoever killed her daughter, while also urging them to explain their actions.

Richard Kyeru, the Rwizi Regional Criminal Investigations Officer, promised to carry out thorough investigations into her death.

Kyarisima had been working at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital since 1997, gradually rising through the ranks to become a senior midwife.

She was also one of the founders of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union and served as the General Secretary for the Central Ankole region.