The Uganda Police Marine Unit with the help of swimmers from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) are searching for the body of a British tourist who drowned in River Nile on Wednesday evening.
The tourist, identified as Robert Kews, hails from Birmingham in UK. He drowned while swimming in the restricted part of the River Nile in Pakwach District.
The senior warden in charge of community conservation in Murchison falls national park Wilson Kagoro, confirmed the incident, describing it as unfortunate.
“He entered the waters to swim against the caution prohibiting swimming in the river section outside the Murchison Falls National Park,” Kagoro said in a telephone interview. He said that even when warned, the tourist insisted on swimming.
Kagoro added on that the 48-year-old tourist had travelled with his family on holiday to the north-west of the country. Incidents of tourists drowning in the Nile in Uganda are uncommon.
The family of six tourists and a driver had checked into a lodge on the banks of the Nile in Pakwach, before going swimming in the river, his wife Justine Katantazi has told the BBC.
Robert Kaweesi, a British citizen of Ugandan origin, is said to have jumped into the river to rescue his 12-year-old son, who had got into trouble.
The son, only identified as Lucas, was rescued by bystanders, but Mr Kaweesi is still missing, a regional police spokesperson said.
Tourist lodges normally advise visitors to be cautious about swimming in the river.
A search for his body has commenced.
