KANUNGU – Two people were yesterday buried alive by a sand quarry in Katete Sub County of Kanungu District.
The victims have been identified as Mugarura Anaklet (20), a resident of Kanyamisinga LC1, Nyakishojwa Parish, Katete Sub County, and Niwamanya Barnet (31), hailing from Kiijanga cell, Rutugunda Parish, Kirima Sub County, Kanungu District.
The harrowing event occurred around 03:00 PM at a sand quarry situated in Kanyamisinga cell, Nyakishojwa Parish, Katete Sub County, Kanungu District.
Anaklet and Barnet were in the process of loading sand onto a tipper lorry when an avalanche of sand engulfed them, sealing their fate despite frantic attempts to escape. Tragically, they succumbed to suffocation.

Elly Maate, the spokesperson for Kigezi Region Police, confirmed the incident, detailing that a team led by OC Kihiihi Police Station ASP Tumukunde, D/IP Tuheibwe Erasmus, SOCO, homicide detectives, and armed personnel swiftly responded, visiting the scene.
Maate further disclosed that statements from witnesses were collected, the scene meticulously examined by SOCO, and documented, with the bodies of the victims retrieved and transported to Kambuga Hospital mortuary for postmortem examination.

In a bid to prevent further tragedies, Maate emphasized that the sand quarry has been closed indefinitely.