A three-month old baby is among five people who drowned when the boat they were travelling in capsized on River Nile en-route from Pakwach district to Nwoya district on Tuesday, October 6, 2020.
The incident that happened at around 3pm saw Ofoy Jakuma, a female adult, a male juvenile only identified as Rwothmio and a female adult only identified as Shukuran all from Erusi sub-county, Gloria Gilamo from Parombo sub-county and a three-month old baby boy all from Nebbi district perish in the water accident.
Three people survived the accident including Maureen Oikane and Lillian Akello female adults from Erusi sub-county in Nebbi district and a one Muber also known as Kadogo a male adult from Ajini village in Pakwach district. These were rescued by fishermen.
Ms Josephine Angucia, the West Nile region police publicist, told this website that the boat was carrying eight people heading to their gardens at Obira village in Nwoya district.
She attributed the accident to strong winds that hit the boat.
Four bodies were retrieved yesterday (Wednesday) morning and in the afternoon as efforts to search for the last one body of Shukuran continued by publication of this story.
Ms Angucia told this website that Panyango police post has registered the case of drowning under reference SD 6/10/2020.
Previous accidents
Drowning in River Nile is not an uncommon accident.
In September 2015, two people from Arana village in Alero sub-county, Nwoya district drowned in River Nile after a boat they were travelling in capsized.
In December 2018, two family members died when a canoe they were travelling in from Nwoya district to Pakwach district capsized at Pujwang landing site few meters from Pakwach town council.
