The Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) is grieving the death of Eng. Gershom Rwakasanga, its Manager of Terminals, who reportedly drowned in the River Nile at Busowoko Falls in Jinja District on Saturday, October 11, 2025.
According to preliminary reports, Eng. Rwakasanga had visited the scenic falls with his daughter around 4:00 p.m. when tragedy struck.
Samuel Kauta, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Jinja, said the engineer was a frequent visitor to Busowoko Falls but this time declined to be guided around the site.
“He went to the falls alone with his daughter, and shortly after, people heard the girl screaming for help,” Kauta said.
Following the incident, police divers and local rescue teams were immediately dispatched to search for the missing body. As of Sunday morning, the search was still ongoing.
In an official statement, UNOC expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Eng. Rwakasanga, describing him as a dedicated and highly valued member of the company.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our colleague at UNOC, Eng. Gershom Rwakasanga, Manager Terminals, who tragically lost his life in a water-related incident at Busowoko Falls in Jinja on October 11, 2025,” the company said.
“UNOC is working with security agencies to recover Gershom’s body. May his soul rest in peace, and may the family and UNOC find strength in the face of this immense loss,” the statement added.
While details of the incident remain unclear, Kiira Regional Police Spokesperson James Mubi said the case had not been formally reported to police at the time of inquiry, but investigations were underway.
Friends, colleagues, and members of the oil and gas fraternity have flooded social media with tributes, describing the late engineer as humble, hardworking, and inspirational. Many noted that he played a key role in advancing Uganda’s petroleum infrastructure.
“Eng. Rwakasanga’s passing is a great loss not only to his family but also to the entire UNOC fraternity and the energy sector at large,” the company reiterated.
Tags: Uganda National Oil Company, Gershom Rwakasanga, Busowoko Falls, Jinja District, Oil and Gas Sector, Tragedy
