A 54-year-old woman drowned and five others were rescued after a flooded stream swept a group of market vendors in Awach Sub-county, Gulu District, on Monday evening.
The deceased has been identified as Labol Lucy, a peasant farmer from Paranga Village, Pugwinyi Parish. She was among six people returning from Patalira market in Patiko Sub-county on April 28, 2026, when they tried to cross Agagi stream at around 7:40 pm.
According to police reports, the stream bordering Awach and Patiko sub-counties was flooding due to heavy rain. The group linked hands to cross, but the fast-moving water broke the chain midway. Labol was swept away while the rest were thrown into the stream.
Ojok Denis, 30, managed to rescue Adoch Sunday and raised an alarm. Residents rushed to the scene and pulled out Acaa Florence, 55, Amono Pamela, 40, Ajok Beatrice, 45, and Laker Evaline, 47, that night. Labol was missing.
Search teams returned Tuesday morning and found Labol’s body on the stream bank at around 7:00 am. The body was taken to her home.
Awach Sub-county LCIII Chairperson Akena Jamesco Richard, 46, reported the incident to police at 10:23 am on April 29.
ASP Ongom David Mudong, PRO Aswa West, said police opened a death by drowning case under CRB 219/2026. Scene of Crime Officers, detectives, and uniformed personnel visited and documented the scene. Statements were recorded from survivors and first responders.
Laker Evaline remains in critical condition at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. The other four survivors are in stable condition.
