A devastating gravel excavation accident in Aboke town council has left three young men dead after a pit collapsed on them during a routine workday.
On April 25, 2025, at approximately 1:00 pm, the Police in Kole district reported the tragic deaths of three young men following a notification from 91-year-old Ogwang Charles.
The elder is a resident of Akaidebe cell, Akwirididi ward, Aboke town council.
The victims, identified as Dengo Ambrose, 24 and Ojok Isaac, were casual workers. Another deceased is Akaa Isaac, 24, who was a student.
They all resided in Akaidebe B cell, Akwirididi ward, Aboke town council.
SP Jimmy Patrick Okema, police PRO for the North Kyoga region, said the incident occurred while the above men were working at a gravel quarry in Akaidebe cell.
The quarry collapsed unexpectedly, burying them beneath the debris, he said.
Upon receiving the report, a coordinated response was initiated involving the District Police Commander, local government officials, and community leaders, who successfully retrieved the bodies.
A case of sudden death has been filed at the Aboke sub-county Police Station and Kole Central Police Station for further investigation.
The police team, including the District Police Commander and a homicide squad, later visited the site.
SP Okema said the deceased were transported to Aboke Health Centre IV for postmortem examinations, and relevant statements were collected
Preliminary investigations revealed that a crack in the gravel had been observed, and despite warnings to cease excavation, the men continued their work until the collapse occurred.
A similar incident had previously been reported in Kole district, prompting authorities to advise community members to refrain from engaging in hazardous occupations in pursuit of their livelihoods.
