What to do if someone dies in Uganda

Uganda is a Commonwealth country with no direct UK flights. All repatriation cargo routes from Entebbe International Airport connect through Nairobi (Kenya Airways) or Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines). This adds one to two transit days compared with direct-flight destinations.

Step 1: Notify the British High Commission Kampala

The British High Commission is the consular authority as Uganda is a Commonwealth country. Address: 4 Windsor Loop, Kamwokya, Kampala. Phone: +256 31 231 2000. FCDO 24-hour emergency: +44 1908 516666.

Step 2: URSB death registration

Deaths are registered at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB). The attending medical doctor completes the cause of death notification. Hospital deaths in Kampala are registered quickly; deaths in remote areas require the certificate to travel back to the URSB, which takes longer.

Step 3: Uganda Police Force CID (unnatural deaths)

For unnatural, violent, or unexplained deaths, the Uganda Police Force Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) investigates. Post-mortem is conducted at the Department of Forensic Pathology, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) must authorise release of the body before embalming or transfer can proceed. This is the primary cause of timeline extension in Uganda.

Step 4: National park and wildlife area deaths

Deaths in Uganda’s national parks add procedural steps that are not present in urban settings. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) must be involved and must certify what occurred in the park before the police can proceed with their investigation. This applies to all national parks including Bwindi Impenetrable, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, and Kidepo Valley.

Gorilla trekking deaths in Bwindi occur rarely but do happen. The main causes are cardiac events from exertion, altitude (Bwindi is approximately 2,400 metres), and medical emergencies. Bwindi’s remote location means transfer to Kampala for post-mortem takes 6 to 8 hours by road. The UWA certification step adds further time before the police process can begin.

Rafting deaths on the Nile near Jinja are also a periodic consular matter. These are treated as accidental death investigations by the CID.

Step 5: Ministry of Health export permit

The Ministry of Health issues the export permit for the body. Required documents: URSB death certificate, DPP release order, Mulago post-mortem report (if conducted), embalming certificate, freedom from contagious disease clearance. Allow five to seven working days for the permit.

Step 6: Routing via Nairobi or Addis Ababa

Uganda has no direct UK flights. From Entebbe (EBB), Kenya Airways routes via Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (NBO) to Heathrow. Ethiopian Airlines routes via Addis Ababa (ADD) to Heathrow and other UK airports. Both are reliable cargo routes. Allow one full transit day in addition to the Uganda processing time. Source: FCDO guidance on death in Uganda; Uganda Police Force CID procedures; British High Commission Kampala consular guidance (2023).