Fisherman survives mob attack after failing to report brother’s drowning in Adjumani
Most victims are between the ages of 5 and 25, with rural and peri-urban communities most affected.
Adjumani: A tragic water transport accident on the Nile River has sparked community outrage in Chiforo Subcounty, Adjumani District, after a local fisherman failed to report his brother’s drowning, resulting in an attempted mob attack.
According to police records under CRB 488/2025, the incident occurred at Mukono Landing Site in the early hours of July 24, 2025. SP Collins Asea, the North and West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson, confirmed that Taban William (40) and his brother Eruaga Dominic were involved in a boating accident after attending campaign rallies and reportedly consuming alcohol.
“Both individuals, reportedly intoxicated, were navigating a vessel when Eruaga lost control and fell overboard,” said SP Asea. “Taban, who remained on the boat, was rescued by community members the following morning but did not report the incident, believing his brother would return.”
However, hopes were dashed when Eruaga’s body was discovered around 4:00 PM on July 25 by fishmongers along the riverbank near Mukono Landing Site.
Angered by Taban’s failure to report the drowning, members of the local community attempted to lynch him, accusing him of negligence. He was rescued by the Local Council 1 (LC1) authorities and immediately taken to Oliji Police Post for his safety.
Taban is currently in custody at Adjumani Central Police Station (CPS) as investigations continue. A postmortem examination was conducted, and the deceased’s body has been handed over to the family for burial.
The case remains under active investigation, and authorities have promised to provide further updates as more information becomes available.
This tragic incident comes amid growing concern over Uganda’s drowning crisis. A 2024 report by the Makerere University School of Public Health revealed that Uganda records an average of nine drowning deaths per day, totaling more than 3,000 deaths annually. Most victims are between the ages of 5 and 25, with rural and peri-urban communities most affected.
Globally, drowning continues to be a leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths, especially in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the urgent need for increased water safety awareness and preventive measures.
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