Repatriationscapes: Death and Body Repatriation among African diaspora in the context of Ugandans in the UK

Abstract

As a scholar of African deathways and diaspora, I undertook this research to explore the largely overlooked practice of body repatriation among Ugandan and African diaspora communities in the United Kingdom. This thesis brings to the fore the lived realities of bereaved families, funeral directors, and community associations who navigate the complex terrain of transnational deathwork. By developing and applying the conceptual frameworks of repatriationscapes and Migrant Deathwork Across Borders (MDAB), I argue that body repatriation is not simply a logistical or administrative task—it is a culturally embedded, emotionally charged, and politically significant act of return, belonging, and continuity.

My findings confirm that burial remains the dominant and often exclusive method of body disposal among African diaspora communities, with repatriation to places of heritage connection viewed as essential for a “proper” burial. Yet this practice is fraught with challenges: financial constraints, documentation hurdles, and bureaucratic delays that intensify grief and inflate costs. Despite its prevalence, body repatriation remains marginalised in UK policy, legal frameworks, and academic discourse. Notably, official reports on the cost of dying omit repatriation entirely, leaving bereaved families unsupported and unacknowledged.

This thesis also reflects on broader social transformations. I document how African funerary traditions are being reshaped by UK legal norms, how concrete graves are replacing natural burials in Africa, and how attitudes toward difficult deaths—such as suicide—are shifting within the diaspora. I argue that these changes demand critical engagement from policymakers, funeral professionals, and scholars alike. I call for culturally inclusive insurance products, legal reforms that bridge the epistemic gap between common and customary law, and environmental reflection on burial models in the face of climate change.

By drawing attention to the migrantisation of corpses and the bureaucratisation of grief, I aim to reposition body repatriation from the margins to the centre of academic and policy discourse. This work contributes to death studies, diaspora scholarship, and Afrocentric epistemologies. It is my hope that the insights offered here will not only inform future research but also empower African diaspora communities to navigate death with dignity, justice, and cultural integrity.

Date of Award	10 Dec 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Supervisor	John Troyer (Supervisor) & Naomi Pendle (Supervisor)