In a scene that could rival fiction, a girl presumed dead stunned an entire village when she walked into her own funeral. Just hours before her burial, Rose Akware returned home—safe and alive—leaving mourners speechless and the village in complete disbelief.
This emotional shocker took place in Agorom West Village, Tororo, where hundreds had gathered to mourn, only to witness a moment no one will ever forget.
The Burial That Turned into a Resurrection
According to her father, Paul Otenge, the family believed Rose had died after police recovered an unclaimed female body. Overwhelmed by grief, they identified the body as hers. The resemblance, he said, was “too striking to question.”
The police agreed to hold the body temporarily as the family made funeral arrangements. They hired chairs, cooked food worth UGX 600,000, and erected tents for mourners.
Then, without warning, Rose strolled into the yard.
Screams, Tears, and Total Confusion
The moment Rose appeared, chaos erupted. Some people screamed, others froze in disbelief. A few collapsed. Children began to cry. Others ran in fear.
“It was like the dead had come back,” one elder said. “You hear about these things, but seeing it is something else entirely.”
Paul Otenge added, “We had accepted her death. We were ready to bury her. And there she was, standing right in front of us. We didn’t know whether to cry again or celebrate.”
Straight to the Police Station
The family immediately rushed to Tororo Central Police Station with Rose in tow. They informed the officers of the shocking mix-up and asked them to reclassify the body as unidentified.
Rose’s return triggered more questions than answers. Many in the community wondered how a family could mistake someone else for their daughter—especially if the body was still recognizable.
A Mystery Yet to Be Solved
The body had been discovered near Nyamatunga Bridge in Kodike Parish, Kaliat Sub-county. Sand miner Paul Ekisa spotted the corpse while working near the river and immediately alerted local leaders.
James Elamo, the chairperson of Nyamatunga Village, confirmed that he contacted police within minutes of the discovery.
Now, Tororo Police are urging any family with a missing daughter to come forward and help identify the deceased.
A Village Gripped by Emotion
The sudden twist sent shockwaves across Morukatipe Sub-county. People who had come to mourn left in a daze. Funeral food was abandoned. Stories spread rapidly, each more exaggerated than the last.
“This isn’t something you just get over,” said one resident. “One minute you’re grieving. The next, you’re witnessing what feels like a resurrection.”
Joy for One Family, Grief for Another
While Rose’s family now rejoices in her safe return, another family remains unaware that their daughter lies in a morgue—unclaimed and unnamed. Police are still searching for clues.
“This should’ve been a day of mourning,” Paul Otenge reflected. “Instead, we were gifted a miracle. But that miracle means someone else’s nightmare is only beginning.”
Uganda is no stranger to stories that shake the public. As this mystery deepens, the nation also focuses on rising labor demands surrounding the national minimum wage, security developments in the UPDF cattle eviction drive, eerie reports that a missing Dutch intern acted strangely in Kidepo, and the trial of NRM youths linked to a robbery spree during President Museveni’s parade.