Police in Luuka District have launched investigations into the circumstances under which a 27-year-old man, identified as Yowasi, drowned in a swamp that connects Namagela and Buwaiswa villages in Nawampiti Sub-county.
According to local residents, the tragic incident occurred when Yowasi was seen struggling in the swamp waters. One of the witnesses, Kamoga Henry, also known as Kaima, described the incident as shocking, noting that it was devastating to see a fellow community member drown. He added that the Central Police of Luuka District (CPC) responded promptly and transported the body to the mortuary for postmortem examination.
Another witness, Basereka Bosco, the vice chairperson of the Boda Boda association in Kyanvuma Town Council, urged fellow riders to be extra cautious during this rainy season. He noted that it is suspected the deceased might have been caught and overwhelmed by heavy rains earlier that morning. Bosco advised boda boda riders to avoid operating during intense downpours to prevent similar tragedies.
Speaking to our reporter, Mr. Sajjabi Martin, the chairperson of Namagela Village, Nawampiti Sub-county, explained that they received news of the incident from locals who had gone to dig in the swamp earlier that morning. He confirmed that the deceased was a resident of Buwaiswa but originally hailed from Nabikuyi, also in Nawampiti Sub-county.
Chairperson Sajjabi expressed concern over the poor condition of the roads in the area, blaming district officials and engineers for neglecting their responsibilities. He noted that the roads become impassable whenever the rainy season begins, further endangering residents.
“I even went as far as hiring a vehicle to bring murram and maintain the swamp road to ease transport for locals, but it wasn’t enough due to limited funds,” Sajjabi said. “I feel the pain of my people and call upon the responsible authorities to work on this swamp road and save the community.”
The issue of poor infrastructure in Luuka District is not new. Just last week, a culvert in Namadope on the main Iganga–Luuka–Nakabugu–Bulopa–Kamuli road broke down due to heavy rains, making transport between Iganga and Kamuli via Luuka extremely difficult. The Ministry of Works reportedly responded swiftly to address the situation.
Across the country, heavy rains have caused widespread damage to roads and swamps—not only in Luuka District but also in several other regions. Even in the capital city, Kampala, the business community continues to decry the effects of flooding and poor drainage during this rainy season.
