On Wednesday, Masaka City unveiled a mortuary worth Shs2.8 billion.
A mortuary is a place used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification (ID), removal for autopsy, respectful burial, cremation, or other methods of disposal.
The giant morgue was built inside Kitovu Hospital in Masaka city in Nnyendo Division.
According to a report filed by Masaka-based popular radio station Buddu FM, the project was funded by a Netherlands-based international organization called “Making People Stronger.” It can hold over 50 bodies.
The morgue has cold rooms and refrigeration equipment that help delay decomposition.
“This will help us hold up bodies for a long time,” said the hospital authorities.
The mortuary has room for “positive temperature,” which keeps bodies between 2 °C (36 °F) and 4 °C (39 °F). This is usually used for keeping bodies for up to several weeks, but it does not prevent decomposition, which continues at a slower rate than at room temperature.
Other rooms have negative temperatures. Here, bodies are kept between -10 °C (14 °F) and −50 °C (−58 °F). Usually used at forensic institutes, particularly when a body has not been identified. At these temperatures, the body is completely frozen, and decomposition is significantly reduced, but not prevented.