Three workers suffocate to death in septic tank

Police in Mbale are investigating an incident in which three men reportedly suffocated to death after they descended into a septic tank in Napulu village in Bungokho sub-county in Mbale district.

Elgon region Police spokesperson Diana Nandawula identified the deceased as James Kutosi, Rogers Mwakhasi and Gabriel Wakoko who had been hired to work on the septic tank.

Nandawula told New Vision that on the fateful day, one Moses Kauka hired four casual labourers to work on his septic tank and when they arrived at the site at about 10AM one of them went down the septic tank but did not return to the surface.

After a few minutes the second man also went into the tank to find out what was happening to his colleague but did not return prompting the third man to follow the duo down the pit.

The fourth worker sensing danger, hesitated going down into the septic tank before the home owner called police.

The Police rescue team arrived at the scene only to retrieve three bodies from the tank.

Preliminary investigations suggested that the three men may have died as a result of suffocation because there was no circulation of fresh air in the septic tank.