TAKEAWAYS

• Halima Namakula wants her body preserved until all her children are present.
• She acknowledges Islamic burial practices but says her personal wishes are different.
• She believes mourners should be given time to process and honour the death of Moses Matovu.

Veteran Ugandan musician Halima Namakula has opened up about her wishes for her burial, saying she does not want to be laid to rest until all her children, especially those living abroad, have returned home.

Namakula shared the unusual request while attending the vigil of fellow veteran singer Moses Matovu, who passed away recently.

Although Namakula is a Muslim and acknowledges that Islamic teachings generally call for the deceased to be buried as soon as possible, she said her personal wish is for her body to be preserved until her children are able to return and participate in her burial.

“I have told my children that when I die, don’t bury me until all of them have come.”

Namakula explained that while she understands the religious implications of her request, she wants her children to have the opportunity to say goodbye and be part of the final ceremonies.

She also used Matovu’s death to make a broader appeal for families and mourners to be given enough time to process the loss of a loved one.

“Moses Matovu has worked for his legacy, so he deserves to be buried with dignity and for people to have time to digest his death.”

According to Namakula, preserving a body for a short period can allow relatives, friends and fans who may be far away to return home, pay their final respects and properly honour the deceased.

Her remarks have sparked conversation about the balance between religious burial practices, family wishes and the emotional needs of those left behind.