A widow in Mbarara City is appealing to the government and well-wishers for assistance to repatriate the body of her daughter, who reportedly died under unclear circumstances in China.
Syson Karungi, 30, a resident of Taso Village in Mbarara City South Division, travelled to China in 2023 through a recruitment agency in search of employment opportunities.
According to her mother, Mable Bamutorana, Karungi initially struggled to find stable employment and later relocated to Beijing, where she worked as a casual labourer. Her employment reportedly ended in April, leaving her without work for two months.
Bamutorana said the family lost contact with Karungi on January 19, 2024, after her known phone numbers became unreachable.
Their concerns deepened on March 5, 2026, when a man who identified himself as an employee of the Ugandan embassy contacted the family seeking details of Karungi’s sister but provided no information regarding her whereabouts.
The family later learnt that Karungi had died in China after reportedly collapsing while having dinner at a restaurant.
Bamutorana said they have not received an official explanation regarding the cause of death and maintain that Karungi had never complained of any serious illness.
According to information relayed to the family by a Ugandan friend living in China, police transferred Karungi’s body to a mortuary in another province.
The family says the mortuary charges 600 yuan per day for storage, adding to the burden of repatriating the remains.
Bamutorana said efforts to seek assistance from Ugandan officials had yielded little progress, while a company reportedly willing to facilitate repatriation quoted approximately Shs96 million for the process.
“We want to bring our daughter home and give her a dignified burial, but we do not have the means,” she said.
Karungi’s sister, Shyrose Mutungi, said the family remains in contact with people willing to assist with the repatriation process but lacks the funds required.
The family has appealed to President Museveni, government authorities and well-wishers to support efforts to return Karungi’s body to Uganda as they continue to seek answers about the circumstances surrounding her death.