Oyam | On November 24, residents of Kamdini sub-county in Oyam and Kiryandongo districts died when ‘their canoe’ capsized in the River Nile.

The incident occurred at 9:30 p.m., according to ASP Odong Alfred, Officer in Charge of Kamdini Police Station.

North Kyoga Regional Police PRO, SP Jimmy Patrick Okema identified the deceased on Monday as Ojok Sabastiano, 58, a peasant farmer from Diicunyi village, Juma parish, Kamdini sub-county, Oyam district, and Hassan Muhammad, 43, a peasant farmer from Kololo village, Laboke parish, Nyamahasa sub-county, Kiryandongo district.

Others are Agenonga Stephi, 36, a boda motorcycle rider with registration number UFY 557S who lives in Nanda Game village, Laboke parish, Nyamahasa sub-county, Kiryandongo District, and Ocircan David, also known as Museveni, 36.

Museveni is a peasant farmer from Kololo village in Laboke Parish, Nyamahasa sub-county, Kiryandongo district.

Initial report 

On the evening of November 24, 2024, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Ojok Sabastiano illegally took an Opii Morish canoe from the Diicunyi landing site with the intention of transporting three passengers and one motorcycle (registration number UFY 557S) to the Awoo landing site in Kiryandongo district.

He first transported the motorcycle before returning to collect the three passengers.

“However, while crossing the River Nile, the canoe capsized, and all occupants were thrown into the water,” SP Okema said.

SP Okema also confirmed that a team led by the District Police Commander of Oyam visited the Riverside and obtained statements from relevant witnesses.

“An immediate search for the capsized canoe and the bodies of the deceased was launched, but it produced no results, and the cause of the incident is still unknown.”

The retrieval of the deceased and the conduct of postmortem examinations are currently underway, Okema stated on Monday.

“It is indeed regrettable,” he said, urging local leaders to help by guiding those who want to cross in order to avoid further tragedies.