Budaka (UG):- A tragic accident at a stone quarry in Bukereo Village in eastern Uganda’s Budaka District has resulted in the deaths of two young men, sparking concerns over safety practices in the region’s mining operations.
The incident occurred around 2:00 PM on Monday, December 16th, 2024 when four individuals were quarrying stones and loading them onto a vehicle.
According to preliminary reports, the victims have been identified as Sipiriano Moding, 20, a resident of Katiira village, and Kamba Alex, 18, from Kositi A village. The two were part of a group extracting stones when a sudden collapse of sand buried them under the weight of the material.
Fortunately, the other two individuals present at the scene managed to escape without injury, although their identities have not yet been disclosed.
The incident was reported to the Budaka police station by Kalebo Stephen, the chairperson of the Local Council (LC) 1 in Katiira village, at approximately 6:30 PM the same day. Kalebo expressed his deep sorrow for the families affected and called for enhanced safety measures in quarrying activities to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
A police team, led by the District Criminal Investigations Officer (D/CID) of Budaka, promptly visited the scene. The area was thoroughly documented, and photographs were taken by the district Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO). An excavator was employed to recover the bodies, which were subsequently transported to Budaka Health Center for postmortem examinations.
“Witness statements have been collected as part of the ongoing investigation, which aims to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and whether negligence played a role,” confirmed The Regional Police Commander ACP Muwanga Moses Kitiyo.
Kitiyo added that the vehicle involved in the operation, a motor vehicle with registration number UBP 278E, has been secured by the police for further examination.
Police urged local quarry workers to adhere to safety protocols to mitigate risks in such high-hazard environments. As inquiries continue, the community mourns the loss of the two young lives, reminding all of the inherent dangers associated with quarrying activities.
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