Police and the local fishermen have retrieved the dead bodies of the two medical interns attached to the Masaka City-based Kitovu hospital who drowned at Orchid Beach Nabugabo in Masaka district.

The bodies of the deceased are lying in Masaka Regional Referral Hospital mortuary.

The deceased identified as  Dr Ahmed Abdallah a resident of Fort portal and Dr Emmanuel  Kidambire both medical interns from IUIU University were retrieved at 10:00 pm on December 8 and 11:00 am on December 9. 

The duo who were in their final year left duty on December 8 to relax at the beach in Nabugabo. According to the area LC1 Chairperson, Teopista Nakaniwagi, the deceased boarded a light local boat without wearing lifesaver jackets.  

Another body retrieved by the fisherman

She said the beach management should improve on safety measures for beach revelers. Abdulah Ahmed a relative of the deceased, Dr Ahmed Abdallah told The New Vision that they have not received any support from the beach management. 

“We have not been supported in any way, the owners of the beach just abandoned the place," he said.

Fishermen at Nabugabo hunting for the bodies of the deceased

Police has recovered some exhibits from the beach.  Local fishermen earlier shocked relatives of the deceased when they refused to support the police to recover the bodies until when a fundraising drive was organised that fetched over sh 1m.  

The local fishermen performed some rituals before they embarked on a hunt down of the bodies.  The Masaka DPC, Moses Nanoka said the beach had earlier been closed down. He was surprised that it resumed operations without clearance.

 The Masaka RCC, Stephen Assimwe said that strict measures for beach owners will be enforced to save guard the lives of revelers especially as the Christmas season gets closer.  He said revelers are not allowed to access the lake under the influence of alcohol.