Written By | Joshua Nahamya
Here the deceased's body being transported to the embassy in Kampala
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MBARARA CITY
Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) has handed over the body of a 41-year-old Rwandan national to officials from the Rwandan Embassy in Kampala after her remains were preserved in the hospital mortuary for more than a week following her death at the facility.
The handover and subsequent repatriation were confirmed by the hospital’s management through its Public Relations Officer, Halson Kagure, who identified the deceased as Charlene Ingabire, a mother of three and a resident of Fumbwe in Rwamagana District, in Rwanda’s Eastern Province.
Ingabire had been admitted to the hospital’s Internal Medicine Department, where she received specialised medical treatment for several weeks before succumbing to her illness on November 2, 2026, at approximately 10:40am.
Unaccompanied Admission and Medical Intervention
Hospital management revealed that the circumstances surrounding Ingabire’s arrival at the regional referral facility remained unclear, as she was admitted without a family member or immediate caregiver after being brought to the emergency unit by an unidentified individual.
Despite the absence of relatives, medical personnel at the facility assumed responsibility for her care, stabilising her in the casualty section before transferring her to the Internal Medicine Ward for continued specialised treatment.
“The hospital took full responsibility, offering her emergency services before transferring her to the medical ward for continuous care,” hospital spokesperson Halson Kagure said. “Although medical workers were hopeful for her recovery, her condition took a dramatic turn, and she passed away despite frantic efforts by our clinical teams to resuscitate her.”
Following her death, the hospital leadership, led by Acting Senior Executive Consultant Dr Deus Twesigye and Deputy Senior Executive Consultant Dr Francis Oriokot, initiated formal diplomatic channels to trace her family in Rwanda.
“Management, led by Dr Deus Twesigye and Dr Francis Oriokot, used established official networks to establish contact with Rwandan authorities at the embassy in Kampala,” Kagure explained.
“The embassy was able to trace her residence in Rwamagana District, and as a result, the body was successfully handed over and repatriated on Sunday afternoon.”
Cross-Border Mobility and Institutional Protocols
Travel records verified by immigration authorities at the Mirama Hills border post indicated that Ingabire legally entered Uganda in 2024. However, the specific commercial or social activities she was pursuing in the country before her hospitalisation remain unclear.
Hospital management emphasised that, as a major specialised referral centre serving south-western Uganda and neighbouring Great Lakes countries, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital frequently receives patients from across the region.
However, the administration urged members of the public and cross-border travellers to ensure that people seeking medical attention are accompanied by immediate caregivers to facilitate communication with medical personnel, consent and coordination with family members.
“While our hospital continuously works to build a strong bridge of communication between patients, their families and the facility beyond healthcare delivery, we strongly urge patients and the public to always seek medical attention in the company of immediate caretakers for easy coordination,” Kagure said.
The hospital spokesperson commended the bilateral coordination between Ugandan health administrators and the Rwandan diplomatic mission in Kampala, which enabled the identification of the deceased’s family.
The remains of Ingabire, a mother of three, have since been transported across the border to Fumbwe in Rwamagana District for burial.
