Mbale City Floods: We Lost a Caring Brother- Andrew Mwangale’s Siblings

“In him, we had a dad, a friend, and brother." That is how the siblings of the late Andrew Mwangale, one of the Mbale City flood victims describe the deceased. 

The late Mwangale 30, was the Manager of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Mbale Regional Office of Baylor Uganda. By the time of his death, Mwangale was pursuing a master’s degree in Statistics at Makerere University. 

According to his relatives, Mwangale was traveling in his vehicle, which veered off the road and plunged into river Namatala, and drowned following heavy rains over the weekend. His lifeless body was found lying on the river banks after a day's search.

Mwangale’s elder brother, Bernard Higenyi said that his young brother was the caretaker of the family because he was employed. To him, he lost a loving person and a father since their dad died some years ago. He notes that the deceased cared for their elderly mother and his young brothers who are still at school. 

//Cue in: “Nze nga omuntu…

Cue out:…omuntu omugenzi,”//

Mwangale’s young sister Idah Mwangale, says that the deceased was their heir to the father who has been there for them in all their problems. According to Mwangale, it was a big shock to the family members to hear that their brother had died in the floods.

Idah Mwangale explains that they recieved news on Sunday last week that Mwangale was missing when his vehicle was found in the river. She says that they initially thought that he had only sustained injuries and survived the flood only for his lifeless body to turn up on Monday morning following a search. Aidah explains that her brother died saving the colleagues he was with, in the vehicle. 

//Cue in: “Oyo brother wange…

Cue out:…bambi nga affudde,”// 

The deceased's wife Jackie Nsibire Mwangale could not hold her tears. She said she has lost a loving husband who cared for her and her kid noting that she will miss him dearly.

Mwangale is survived by an expectant wife, his elderly mother, and one child. He was laid to rest on Tuesday in his home district of Butaleja.