C0011 Uganda

On 15 November 2024, the IRM received and acknowledged receipt of a complaint concerning a fatal drowning incident in south-western Uganda. The complainants are family members of the deceased. The complainants have not requested confidentiality but as a result of the IRM’s risk assessments, and in accordance with the PGs and TOR, the IRM is withholding the identity of complainants in external communications.

The complaint relates to a drowning incident that occurred on 29 September 2024 in Rukiga District in Uganda. The incident involves a 17-year-old boy who was reportedly engaged in informal labour around wetland areas in Bukinda Sub-County, Rukiga District. The incident occurred at a water retention facility that was reportedly under construction, and part of livelihood-support activities being implemented under the GCF-funded project FP034, “Building Resilient Communities, Wetland Ecosystems and Associated Catchments in Uganda” (FP034).

During eligibility determination, the IRM gathered and examined information from complainants and community members. Information that was examined included eyewitness accounts of individuals present in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Family members have raised several concerns related to ongoing harms being experienced as a result of the loss of life. 

On 13 December 2024, the IRM determined the complaint to be eligible. During the initial steps phase, the IRM team engaged with complainants and relevant stakeholders on arrangements to implement activities in an expedited manner to address immediate harms alleged in the complaint. The IRM assessed that the requests made by complainants could be addressed via cooperative agreement and action on some key activities to ameliorate the adverse impacts, provided this could be concluded within a reasonable timeframe. Complainants further indicated their preference to arrive at an early resolution of the concerns raised in their complaint. 

The IRM facilitated a series of engagements between complainants and the Executing Entity. In March 2025, an initial agreement was signed to the satisfaction of complainants to address concerns raised in the complaint. The agreement was subsequently modified, with the consent of complainants, to account for a change in technical assessments. The agreement and all underlying actions were successfully implemented by the prescribed deadline of 9 June 2025. 

Complainants have expressed their satisfaction with the implementation of the agreement and have communicated to the IRM that their complaint can be closed.