A quiet evening in Ttula Zone, Nabweru Division, turned into a nightmare for one family when five-year-old Regina Nakawuki Gift lost her life after slipping into a rainwater trench during a heavy downpour on July 28.
The heartbreaking incident unfolded as the child played on the verandah while her mother, Justine Bwambale, stepped out briefly to collect rainwater. Her siblings were inside the house at the time.
What started as innocent play quickly turned fatal.
“While playing, the child slipped on the wet surface and fell into a nearby drainage trench. Despite her mother’s immediate attempt to rescue her, the child was swept away by the strong water current into a larger trench,” said Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SSP Patrick Onyango in a statement issued Tuesday.
Police, along with concerned residents, mounted an immediate search for the child. But as night fell, hope began to dim. The efforts resumed at first light on July 29, and eventually, Nakawuki’s lifeless body was discovered further downstream.
Her body was taken to Mulago City Mortuary for a postmortem examination to determine the official cause of death.
Nakawuki’s death is the latest in a growing list of child drownings linked to open drainage systems, particularly during Uganda’s rainy seasons.
The tragedy has reignited public concern about urban safety and the glaring risks of uncovered trenches in residential areas.
Authorities are now urging vigilance and accountability.
“Such tragedies are avoidable. We urge parents to closely monitor children during the rainy season, especially in areas with open drainage,” SSP Onyango said.
He also called out city planners and local leaders.
“We also call on local leaders and engineers to prioritize safety by covering trenches and improving urban drainage systems.”
