Residents of Omukabumba Rukiri, particularly in the Akatojo ward of Rubaare town council, are grappling with shock and sadness following a tragic incident involving an adult man identified as Salongo Byamugisha. The man, in his 30s, fell into a 32-foot ditch he had been preparing for the installation of a borehole.
According to eyewitness accounts, Mr. Julius Kubiriba, known locally as Oweminyara, recounted the incident when speaking to our reporter. He explained that Byamugisha, who had recently moved to Rukiri Kemyenda from Kabuyanda, was hired to dig the ditch for the borehole.
Byamugisha arrived at the site as usual to pump out water from the deep ditch. Tragically, as he attempted to climb down the ladder to extract more water, he lost his footing. Eyewitnesses reported that he fell headfirst into the water-filled ditch, where he unfortunately drowned almost instantly.
Mr. Boaz Kabongoya, a co-worker who was on-site at the time, attempted to alert nearby residents after witnessing the fall. Despite their immediate efforts to rescue Byamugisha, the depth of the ditch rendered their attempts futile, prompting them to call the police for assistance.
A rescue team from the Ntungamo Central Police Station responded quickly to the scene. They documented the situation, taking statements from witnesses, and ultimately retrieved Byamugisha’s body, which has since been transported to Itojo Mortuary for an autopsy.
The community is left in mourning as they process the sudden loss of a neighbor and a man they barely knew. This tragic event highlights the dangers associated with deep excavations and the need for safety measures in such work environments.
