The Marine Police Unit (MPU) is searching for a man who drowned while trying to save his son on River Nile in Pakwach district, law enforcement authorities have revealed.

Formal identification (by the British High Commission) is yet to take place.

Lawrence Kakooza with his wife Justine Nabwami during their marriage ceremony. Courtesy photos

However, authorities at the Gipir and Labong Hotel in Pakwach identified the deceased as Robert Kaweesi, an engineer who hails from Birgmingham in the UK.

‘He sneaked’

Police say they need to ascertain the true identity of the deceased since one of the officials at Murchison Falls National Park had identified the deceased tourist as Robert Kaweesi, yet the documents they possess have two other different names.

Thursday evening, it also emerged that the 48-year-old man, said to be of Ugandan origin, was also known as Lawrence Kakooza.

Earlier, MPU sources said the man (Kaweesi) was barred from swimming by the hotel managers, but he allegedly sneaked to the river with his two sons and a daughter.

Emergency services at the hotel, and rescue teams managed to save one person after the incident on Wednesday afternoon in Pakwach.

Sources said the family had also booked for a game drive in the neighbouring Murchison Falls National Park in northern Uganda.

Why he drowned

Preliminary investigations indicate that the missing man (Kaweesi) checked in on Wednesday at 5:50pm at Gipir and Labong Hotel with his wife and four children.

“The deceased drowned as he tried to save one of his sons, who was being swept away by the strong current,” a source said.

According to Police, another guest at the hotel saved the son.

Wilson Kagoro, a senior warden at Murchison Falls National Park, also confirmed the incident.

“It is unfortunate that he (Kaweesi) drowned. We understand he entered the waters to swim against the caution prohibiting swimming in the area. The River section is outside our park jurisdiction,” Kagoro told New Vision.

MPU duties

A joint rescue operation was last evening still underway, supervised by the MPU.

The MPU’s objective is to ensure maintenance of law and order on Uganda’s water bodies, conduct patrols on water to ensure security and safety, rescue operations and to enforce government regulations accordingly, especially on immigration, fishing and smuggling on the water.

Others are to; support Very Important Persons on water, provide traffic guidance on water and promote tourism and investment on the maritime environment.

163 bodies retrieved

Last year, a total of 163 dead bodies were retrieved from Uganda’s water bodies, according to the recently released annual crime report.

The report shows that 114 people were rescued (alive) after their boat capsized on the waters.

Who is kaweesi aka kakooza

Whereas his close family identified him as Lawrence Kakooza, Police in West Nile region insist that the missing man is Robert Kaweesi, a 48-year-old resident of Luton, Luzorl Devon Road, London.

Speaking to New Vision from Pakwach, Peter Kibirango, who is camped in Pakwach, revealed that the family had travelled to Murchison Falls for an excursion for his brother’s honeymoon.

Wedding ceremony in Mpigi

Kibirango says: “When he was born on October 10, 1975, my brother was named Lawrence Kakooza. Two weeks ago, we celebrated his colourful marriage ceremony with his wife, Justine Nabwami. The ceremony took place at their home in Ggolo village, Mawokota, Mpigi district. Another big ceremony was due in Muyenga, Kampala.

“Kakooza lives in the UK, where he set up a company dealing in air conditioners. He had plans to fly back on Monday,” Kibirango revealed.