Six More Survivors of River Nguse Boat Tragedy Emerge from Bugoma Forest

At least six additional survivors of the River Nguse boat tragedy in Kagadi District have emerged from Bugoma Central Forest Reserve, bringing the total number of survivors to seventeen (17). The incident occurred last Tuesday at around 8:30 p.m. in Kyaleni Cell, Pacwa Town Council, Kagadi District, where more than 20 people are feared dead.

Police reports indicate that the locally made canoe was carrying 39 passengers alongside several bags of charcoal. The victims are believed to have been mainly charcoal burners and farmers returning from Kikuube District, where they had gone for charcoal burning and farming activities. Following the accident, joint rescue operations by the police and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Marine Unit were launched to search for victims.

Since then, ten (10) bodies have been retrieved from the river and handed over to relatives for burial. While police had initially reported eleven (11) survivors, six more individuals have since emerged from Bugoma Forest Reserve, increasing the confirmed number of survivors to seventeen (17).

Sulaiman Birungi, the Marine Police Commandant who is leading the search operations, told media that the six survivors had reportedly hidden in the forest after escaping the accident. He explained that after surviving the tragedy, the individuals fled into Bugoma Forest Reserve out of fear of arrest over alleged illegal activities in the forest. 

According to Birungi, more survivors could still be hiding in the forest for the same reason. He has appealed to them to come out and voluntarily surrender so they can receive assistance.

Meanwhile, Birungi noted that search operations conducted from Saturday to Monday did not yield any new results. Kagadi Resident District Commissioner Caroline Nanshemeza said the search operation is ongoing to ensure all victims are accounted for.

Police investigations into the tragedy show that the canoe had a capacity of only fifteen (15) passengers but was overloaded with 39 people at the time of the accident. The vessel had no engine and was instead being propelled manually using a stick. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has donated UGX 150 million to support families who lost relatives in the tragedy.

The offer was announced by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja while addressing district leaders and bereaved families at the accident scene in Kyaleni Cell, Pacwa Town Council, Kagadi District, last Friday. Nabbanja said each bereaved family will receive UGX 5 million to assist with burial arrangements.

She also directed district leaders and security officials to compile a comprehensive list of all affected victims and their families to ensure proper distribution of the funds.