Mourners attending the funeral of a former Bugerere County chief, James Ssempigga, in Ntooke village, Kayunga Town Council, were taken aback when they discovered that his grave was dug to a depth of 15 feet. This depth is significantly more than the usual 6 feet for graves.
James Ssempigga, who was 70 years old and a former official of Buganda Kingdom in Kayunga District, had specified in his will that he wanted to be buried in a 15-foot deep grave and wrapped in 100 pieces of bark cloth instead of being placed in a casket.
To honour his wishes, the family and attendees enlisted a group of young men to dig the grave over two days, working through Thursday night and into Friday afternoon.
Moses Kanaabi, a friend of the family, explained that they even set up lights to allow the digging to continue overnight, ensuring the burial could proceed as planned on Friday. Ssempigga, who was recently relieved of his duties as Bugerere County chief by the Kabaka, passed away after a long illness.
As the grave was being prepared, a crowd of mourners gathered to witness the unusual depth. Many expressed disbelief, with one mourner, Ms Nakate, questioning the rationale behind Ssempigga’s request for such a deep burial.
The excess soil removed from the grave was piled nearby, leading some attendees to wonder how long it would take to refill the grave during the burial. Among those present were prominent figures such as the Mukono Diocesan Bishop, Rt Rev. Enos Kitto Kagodo, who led the requiem mass and appeared visibly surprised at the sight of the deep grave.
Also in attendance were Hon Amos Lugolobi, the State Minister for Finance, and Gen. Katumba Wamala, the Minister for Works and Transport.
A further challenge arose when mourners struggled to carry Ssempigga’s heavy body, wrapped in 100 pieces of bark cloth, to the grave. The process of backfilling the grave took over two hours, with many participants needing breaks and refreshments, including water and a local brew called Tonto.
Bishop Kagodo praised the late Ssempigga for his contributions to the church and his loyalty to the Kabaka.
