The effect of COVID-19 public health guidelines on the funeral traditions and burial rituals among the Baganda, a tribe in Central Uganda

Abstract

Introduction: Governments across Africa have come up with stringent measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. These have caused unprecedented disruptions in the sociocultural fabric and interactions among people. This study aimed at examining the effect of these measures on the funeral and burial rituals among the Baganda. Methods: the study adopted aqualitative approach to collect data from five purposively selected adults of Buganda ethnicity whose relatives had succumbed to COVID-19. Data were analyzed using thematic and document analysis to familiarize with data, generated initial codes and themes, reviewed them, defined and named themes and finally producing the report. Results: the study reports uncultural handling of the dead, mourning in isolation and undignified burials. Conclusion: the bleach of these traditional rituals among have caused psychosocial suffering among the Baganda as a result of restrictions on the social interactions among people.