Four-year-old drowned in river nyagak in Zombo

Community of Yil village, Anyola Parish, Atyak sub county Zombo district are continuing with a search for the body of a four year old girl who fell in river Nyagak on Saturday, May 4.

The child only identified as Ramlah a resident of Yil village, reportedly died after she fell into the river with a brother who carried her at the back as they attempted to cross Nyagak Paa Bruno footbridge according to Nuru Wathum, The chairperson Yil community.

Wathum explained that the minors who were in the company of their mother only identified as Gladys were going to Paidha Town Council adding that community came in for rescue after their mother raised alarm and also jumped into the fast flowing water to save her children.

“when the two slipped into the waters, their mother raised alarm and jumped into the river to save them but, community came for rescue and saved the mother, the 12 year old boy meanwhile the four year old was swept away and couldn’t be located” Wathum told whispereyenews in an interview adding that a serious search for the missing child by locals is ongoing though the heavy rain is making the water particularly treacherous for the search teams.
He said the two are in good health.

In 2022, two women also drowned at the same spot as they attempted to cross the footbridge and local leaders say since 2007, that particular spot has claimed lives of more than 20 people.
Yil community have appealed for support from well-wishers and leaders to address the footbridge concern in vain.
Between 2016 and 2018, over 1300 people from lake and non-lake districts in Uganda died by drowning as per the 2021 statistics published by Makerere University School of public health.