Adjumani, Uganda: A 24-year-old employee of Minister Balaam Barugahare under his events company (Balaam Music Events) Saturday drowned in the River Nile at Sinyanya Landing Site in Adjumani District, in what police have described as a tragic accident.
According to SP Collins Asea, the North West Nile regional police spokesperson, the victim, identified as Musasizi Yusufu, and his colleagues had travelled from Obongi District to Adjumani after a presidential campaign event. Upon crossing the river by ferry, the group stopped to rest at the landing site while waiting for others.
Asea revealed that Musasizi later approached the riverbank to bathe. He removed his clothes and sandals and entered the water, but soon drifted into deeper sections where he was overwhelmed by strong currents.
“He believed the water was shallow, but he swam farther and was swept away by the current,” SP Asea said.
Rescue divers from Obongi District later recovered his body approximately 200 meters downstream, which has since been transported to Adjumani General Hospital for a postmortem examination.
Police have opened an inquiry under reference ADJ. DEF 53/2025, with scene of crime officers and homicide detectives from Adjumani Central Police Station conducting investigations.
SP Asea urged the public to be vigilant and take necessary precautions when engaging in water activities. “We appeal to everyone to prioritize their safety and the safety of others, especially during this time of heightened activities,” he said.
By press time on Saturday evening, the Minister was yet to publicly comment on the incident, nor respond to comments about the same.
According to Uganda Police data, drowning remains a persistent public safety issue. In 2024, police recorded 119 drowning cases, down from 138 in 2023. However, a Makerere University School of Public Health report estimates that over 3,000 Ugandans die annually from drowning, an average of nine deaths per day across the country.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
