By Obed Kankiriho
Police in Kanungu District are investigating a tragic sand quarry accident that claimed the lives of two men and left one survivor in Katete Sub-county.
The incident occurred on Saturday at around 10:00 a.m. at a sand quarry in Kanyamisinga Village, Nyakashojwa Parish, Katete Sub-county. The matter was reported to Katete Police Station shortly after midday.
According to police, the victims had gone to load sand onto a tipper truck, registration number UBQ 884U, an Isuzu vehicle owned by one of the deceased. During the loading process, a large mass of sand suddenly collapsed, burying the truck and the men. One person managed to escape and survived.
The deceased were identified as Izobaryomwe Simon (30), a casual labourer, and Mbonigaba Umar (31), a driver and co-owner of the sand quarry. The survivor was identified as Tumwebaze Junior (24), also a casual labourer. All are residents of Kanyamisinga Village.
Police responded promptly to the scene after receiving the report. A rescue team from Kanungu Central Police Station, led by the District Police Commander, SP Azira Grace, was deployed. The operation was reinforced by a wheel loader from the UPDF Engineering Brigade in Kanungu to aid excavation efforts.
By evening, the body of Mbonigaba Umar had been retrieved. Efforts to recover the second body and the buried motor vehicle are expected to resume on Sunday morning, with police noting the need for an additional excavator to speed up the operation.
Local leaders told police that the sand pit has been operational for more than 20 years and has previously been associated with multiple fatal accidents, raising serious safety concerns at the site.
Police have opened a case of rash and negligent act causing death at Katete Police Station as investigations continue. The Kigezi Regional Police Spokesperson, ASP Maate Elly, has urged sand quarry operators and workers to strictly observe safety guidelines to prevent similar tragedies.
