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Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) Marine Engineer has tragically lost his life while attempting to rescue 12 passengers stuck in the middle of a flooded road.According to the Aswa West Police Spokesperson, ASP Ongom David Mudong, the incident occurred on Pakwach-Nwoya road on Wednesday, 27th November, 2024 at around 11:00AM
Engineer Yahaya Hassan aged 45yrs attached to UNRA Pakwach who led a rescue unfortunately died when their boat capsized in the process.Mudong says that due to the early morning heavy rains, the Tangi River which is a subsidiary of River Nile got flooded and burst it’s Banks submerging the Pakwach-Nwoya road.
Preliminary narrative of information by eye witnesses indicates that, a reckless driver one Okello Mohamed attached to Elite transporters company LTD while from Arua side heading to Lira with 12 passengers in a Drone Taxi Reg. No. UBH 418W braved to cross the already high leveled fast flowing river and ended up getting stuck in the middle of the waters with all the passengers therein.The Territorial police of Nwoya District commanded by the DPC SSP Anyama Richard responded to the scene and notified the technical team of UNRA.
The rescue boat of UNRA with a crew of 04 personnel arrived at the scene and in an attempt to rescue the passengers who were stuck in the middle of the waters, their boat capsized killing the UNRA Marine Engineer.His body was conveyed to Pakwach Health Center IV for postmortem meanwhile his colleagues were rescued by another Marine boat of the UPDF.
With the help of the Excavator Machine and equipment from the China Railways construction site based at Olwiyo in Nwoya District, the Taxi was successfully pulled out of the water and the following passengers were rescued;Badaru Comfort, APio Modesta, Ogwang Jasper, Okello Muhammed the Driver, AKong Gloria, Yasin Kemisalah, Achen Lona, Ajedra Juliet, Akello Gift, Akello Gifty, Akongo Vivian, ssekyewa Deziderio and Stella Kakabuye.
All the above have been admitted at Anaka General Hospital for treatment and first Aid.The Police detectives have so far compiled statements from relevant witnesses and also pending statement recording from the rescued passengers upon recovery and discharge as part of investigations meanwhile the Taxi driver has also been arrested pending interrogation as more inquiries continue.
The UNRA Engineers later made an assessment of the road and they found out that it was badly damaged and requires repair.Their recommendations temporarily bans all sorts of Motorists from using the road from either sides except of Pedestrians.
“We urge the members of the public to adhere to the above precautionary measure to mitigate such incidences from escalating which is a serious danger to lives and public safety,” says Mudong in a statement issued today, Thursday, 28th November, 2024
