Police in Apac district are investigating the circumstances under which a group of people drowned in the Nile on Monday, July 10th, 2023, at around 4 a.m.
SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga regional police spokesperson, said the investigation follows a report registered on July 10th at 8 a.m. by Gabriel Okule, aged 19, a Karamojong and a supervisor at the Indian Farm Oil in Maruzi Ranch, Apac district.
Okema said that it is alleged that on July 9, 2023, 13 workers from the Maruzi palm oil project farm left the farm to go for another job in Masindi district.
He identified the deceased as Peter Lotyang, aged 19, Simon Lemukol, aged 18, Simon Lotham, aged 30, John Lomuria, aged 15, Nomha Kamur, aged 21, Simon Ngole, aged 21, Joseph Lonta, aged 19, Simon Lucumwa, aged 35, and Joseph Lokuwam, aged 19 years old.
“It’s alleged that on July 9, 2023, at night, 13 workers who were working on the Maruzi palm oil project farm left the farm to go for another job in Masindi District due to non-payment by management at the Indian farm,” he said.
Okema urged workers to always approach the office of the labor union in case of any changes at work before taking other decisions. The labor offices are in all districts and local governments in the country.
However, according to Okema, by the time they reached Kungu landing site, they found that the ferry was not working, so they decided to board a small canoe to cross to Masindi port landing site, but before they could cross, they all drowned in the water after the boat capsized with four survivors.
The four survivors are identified as Muleka Bosco, the sailor; Byekwaso Godfrey; Locire Simon; and Lukwampe Peter, passengers.
On June 15, 2022, five people died when a boat capsized on the Nile. The victims were sailing from Kimaka in Jinja City to Njeru Landing Site in Buikwe District.
On April 3, 2022, six people died on Lake Victoria when a boat they were traveling in capsized. The boat was sailing from Kiyindi Landing Site in Buikwe District to Namatale Landing Site in Buvuma District.
On January 24, 2021, seven people drowned after the boat they were sailing in capsized. They were sailing from Lwanabatya Landing Site in Kalangala District to Kasenyi Landing Site in Entebbe.
