Ntungamo DHO has collapsed and died in Sauna

 Ntungamo District Health Officer (DHO), Dr Richard Bakamuturaki has died after collapsing in a sauna at a Ntungamo Hotel this evening, the district acting deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Fedelis Kizza has confirmed.

Dr Bakamuturaki collapsed after allegedly suffocating in the sauna at Ankole Resort Hotel where he had gone with friends at about 5:30pm.

Kizza said he was taken to Amazing Grace Clinic for first aid but he was pronounced dead before was admitted at the private health facility.

Sources say he was in the sauna at Ankole Resort Hotel and Spa. He became lethargic, probably due to suffocation and he collapsed. He was rushed to a nearby health facility, Amazing Grace Clinic, but he was pronounced dead before being admitted.

“It is sad we have lost him,” Kizza eulogized. The body was later taken to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital for postmortem.

Dr Bakamuturaki, 48, became Ntungamo DHO in 2012, replacing Dr John Karikwisya who retired in 2010. He had worked as Rakai DHO and project officer in the US-funded strengthening decentralization services project based in Central and Eastern Uganda.

He is a survived by a wife and two children. The district chairman,  Sam Mucunguzi described Dr Bakamuturaki as a committed health officer whose effort to cub infections, especially Covid-19, will be missed.

Rwizi police spokesperson Samson Kasasira says that they are waiting for the postmortem to establish the cause of death.

Denis Muhumuza, Itojo sub-county LC V councillor, says the late was one of the best civil servants and best medical worker Ntungamo district has ever had.

Muhumuza describes Bakamuturaki, who was fondly known as Cameroon as a down-to-earth person, saying that he has been very resourceful and focal in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sauna is only suitable in the frig countries, during Winter. Besides, nobody goes for sauna during Summer, because sometimes the extreme Summer heat even kills especially older people.