The family of the late Wamu Walu is making an urgent appeal to the Hela Provincial Administration to repatriate his body to Masingara Village in Daru, Western Province.
His eldest son, Chris Wamu, said his father’s body has remained at Erima Funeral Home in Port Moresby for almost five months since his death on May 26, 2026, at Port Moresby General Hospital after a short illness.
Chris said 10 siblings travelled to Port Moresby hoping to bring their father home, but the prolonged wait has exhausted the family financially and emotionally.
“Coming and living in the city is costly. We have exhausted our funds. All the family wants is their father to return home,” he said.
Late Walu, born on November 3, 1967 at Daru General Hospital, was a long-serving public servant. After schooling in Daru, he studied at Administration College (ADCOL) in 1988 and joined the Southern Highlands Provincial Government in 1989 as a Local Level Government Executive Officer for Koroba-Lake Kopiago.
He served at Lake Kopiago LLG from 1991 to 1995, then studied at the University of Papua New Guinea in 1996. From 1997 to 2012 he worked as an Internal Auditor with the Department of Provincial Affairs and Local Level Government in Mendi.
From 2013 until his death, he served with the Hela Provincial Government as Senior Internal Auditor, and was awaiting appointment as Chief Hela Provincial Auditor. He was instrumental during the transition when Hela separated from Southern Highlands.
Chris said the family has submitted quotations for repatriation but has not received a clear response. They were informed a signed cheque was sent by the Provincial Treasurer last month, but with no confirmation on timing.
Hela Governor Philip Undialu has expressed condolences, apologized for the communication breakdown, and instructed the Provincial Administration to immediately liaise with the family and arrange repatriation to Masingara, assuring support.
However, Chris said the family is still waiting, with assistance coming only through a staff member in the Clerk’s Office from Western Province.
“We just want to move things fast,” Chris said, pleading for the Governor and Administration to act.
After decades serving Southern Highlands and Hela, the family says Walu deserves to finally rest at home.
