KAMPALA — Bukooli North Member of Parliament Hon. Ayagalachi Jamal has appealed to the Government to assist the family of Night Benura, a resident of Namayemba Town Council in Bukooli North, Bugiri District, who died in Saudi Arabia and whose remains have reportedly remained there for about two months.
Ayagalachi raised the matter in Parliament after being approached by Benura’s family, saying they are facing difficulties raising the money required to repatriate her remains to Uganda. He appealed to the Government to urgently intervene and support the bereaved family.
According to Ayagalachi, Benura travelled from Namayemba Town Council in Bukooli North to Saudi Arabia for employment through a company that recruited Ugandans to work abroad. He told Parliament that she had spent about two years in Saudi Arabia before her death.
The MP said the family was informed that Benura had died after reportedly falling into a swimming pool. He said the circumstances surrounding her death had left the family in distress while also struggling to have her remains returned to her home in Namayemba.
Ayagalachi told the Speaker that the company involved in Benura’s employment had asked the family to provide money to facilitate the repatriation of her remains. He said the family was unable to raise the required amount, prompting him to seek Government intervention.
During the submission, the amount required to facilitate the repatriation was raised, with Ayagalachi indicating that the family had been asked to provide Shs6 million to bring Benura’s remains back to Uganda.
The Bukooli North MP appealed to the Prime Minister and the responsible minister to urgently engage the relevant authorities and assist the family in bringing Benura’s remains home. He said Government support would ease the financial burden facing the family of the deceased.
Ayagalachi said the continued stay of Benura’s remains in Saudi Arabia was putting additional emotional and financial pressure on her relatives, who want to bring their daughter home and give her a decent burial.
The MP’s intervention has brought Night Benura’s case to the attention of Parliament as he seeks Government assistance to facilitate her repatriation from Saudi Arabia. The family is now looking to the authorities to help resolve the matter and enable them to bring Benura home for burial.
