Tears engulfed Mayanja swamp as the police alongside locals finally retrieved the body of the 20-year-old man, Ibrahim Lukwago, who drowned during yesterday’s heavy downpour in Najjanankumbi, along Entebbe road, in Wakiso district.
Lukwago drowned in the afternoon hours but police and locals’ efforts to search for his body were futile as the amount of water kept increasing till night. The locals and police decided to check all the trenches up to Mayanja swamp where the naked body was retrieved today a few minutes to midday.
However, there was drama as police and relatives of the deceased fought for the body. Police wanted the body to be taken for postmortem but relatives and locals led by the deceased’s father, Musa Ssekiziyivu, insisted that him being a Muslim they needed to bury him as fast as possible.
Police’s explanation on the importance of carrying out a postmortem fell on deaf ears and numbers of people opposing the idea kept increasing. Perhaps after sensing danger, police walked away, left the father and locals with the body in order to prepare for burial.
Ssekiziyivu said he was working with his son in Nakasero market but yesterday he was not feeling well and he decided to return home. However, Ssekiziyivu said he received a phone call informing him that his son had drown trying to cross the flooded path.
“My son was very okay until during afternoon hours said he was not feeling well. He told me that he wanted to go back home and I had no objection. I was shocked to receive a phone call informing that he had drown,” Ssekiziyivu said.
Patrick Onyango the Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson warned the public against attempting to cross flooded roads and paths. Onyango said once the road is flooded, you cannot know the impact the water has caused.
“Be mindful and know where you step. You never know that the water might have swept the bridge or cause erosion. Please don’t attempt crossing any flooded point. Wait for the water to reduce. Whether on foot or driving a car don’t cross flooded areas,” Onyango said.
Lukwago was the second person to drown this week in floods. A day earlier, a body of a man had been retrieved in Makindye Ssabagabo municipality after he was washed by running water on Monday. By press time, there was a Boda rider who was speculated to have drown during the Tuesday downpour in Najjanankumbi.
Keith Muhakanizi the permanent secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister on the weekend issues a document warning people to prepare for the worst as heavy rains continue to be received in various parts of the country.
Muhakanizi’s warning was based on Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA). Floods have killed people in Mbale, Kasese, Kisoro and Bulambuli.