A UNRA marine engineer who was part of a team that was trying to save passenger of a taxi that had been swept away by floods at Pakwach has drowned.
Yahaya Hussan, 45, a UNRA marine engineer attached to Pakwach died when a boat he was on as a team of police, UPDF and UNRA officers tried to rescue six passengers from the taxi capsized.
According to the West Nile region police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police, Collins Asea the development happened after Tangi River flooded and submerged the Nwoya Pakwach Road following heavy rains that pounded the country.
He said taxi registration number UBH 418 W destined for Lira with passengers on board got stuck in the middle of the running waters as the driver tried to wade through the floods.
This prompted a rescue mission .
“Unfortunately, the boat belonging to UNRA with personnel which had come to rescue the passengers capsized due to the high water levels and waves,” Asea said.
He said that the UNRA engineer got trapped under the boat as it capsized and by the time he was found, he had breathed his last.
“The other personnel in the boat were however rescued by other marine teams from UPDF.”
He said the victims in the taxi were successfully rescued and referred to Anak general hospital for medication.
The development comes at a time when heavy rains pounding the country have continued to wreak havoc and causing floods in various parts.
