A tipper driver has died after a sand quarry collapsed on him in Bubaare Town Council, Rubanda District. The deceased has been identified as Godwin Arineitwe Kanyamate, a resident of Mukaziniro Village, Muyanje Ward, Bubaare Town Council.
According to area resident Windom Niwamanya Kahima, Arineitwe went to inspect his sand quarry near his home on Monday evening. While there, he reportedly began extracting sand using a pick mattock, locally known as an Eshuruuru. During the excavation, the quarry suddenly caved in, trapping him beneath the sand.
Residents rushed to the scene, dug him out, and transported him to Mwesigye Clinic along Kigongi B Street in Kabale Town. Due to the severity of his injuries, medical workers referred him to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital for specialised treatment. Arineitwe succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday morning.
Another resident, Moses Turinawe, said Arineitwe had previously been using an excavator to extract sand from the quarry but, for reasons that remain unclear, chose to use a pick mattock on the day of the accident. By press time, Arineitwe’s body was at the Kabale Regional Referral Hospital mortuary awaiting a postmortem examination. Police had not yet issued an official statement on the incident.
The tragedy adds to a series of fatal sand quarry accidents in Rubanda District. In December 2018, 18-year-old Victor Twinomujuni, a resident of Rwarubaya Village in Muko Sub-county, died after a sand quarry collapsed while he was extracting sand in Mubwindi-Kagoye Village.
In another incident in June 2022, 27-year-old Dan Muhereza, a resident of Murambo II Village, Kitojo Ward, Bubaare Town Council, was buried alive when a quarry collapsed as he extracted sand and stones along the Hamuhambo-Muko Road. His body was later recovered from the debris.
The recurring incidents have raised concerns over safety practices at sand mining sites in the district, where manual excavation continues despite the risk of deadly collapses-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
