By Sekaggya Seka Moses
The Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) has confirmed the recovery of the body of Engineer Gershom Rwakasanga, who tragically drowned in the River Nile at Busowoko Falls in Jinja on October 11.
Rwakasanga, Manager for Terminals Development & Operations at the Jinja Storage Terminal, reportedly slipped and fell into the river during a site visit.
In a statement, UNOC expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended condolences to Rwakasanga’s family, friends, and colleagues.
“It is with deep sorrow that we inform the public that the body of our colleague, Eng. Gershom Rwakasanga, has been recovered from the River Nile following the tragic incident at Busowoko Falls,” the company said.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Gershom’s family, friends, and all who worked closely with him. Our collective thoughts and prayers are with all affected by this tragic loss.”
The rescue efforts, conducted jointly by police, emergency teams, and local community members, led to the recovery of Rwakasanga’s body. Funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2023, at least 138 people drowned between January and December 2023, while 243 bodies were retrieved from various lakes and rivers.
A recent study estimates that around 2,940 Ugandans die from drowning each year, with lakeside districts like Jinja being particularly prone to such incidents.
The victims are often young adult males who lack access to swimming skills, life jackets, or emergency rescue services.
The study found that more than 70% of fatal drownings occur in lakeside districts such as Jinja, Mayuge, Masaka, Serere, and Rakai, where fishing and water transport are major sources of livelihood.
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