By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu,
MBARARA
Alliance Secondary School Kakoba, student in Kakoba Division Mbarara City on Sunday drowned in River Rwizi during a school’s sports day.
According to eyewitnesses, the student, identified as Aselum Muhumuza, had gone into the waters with a friend, but minutes later, his presence could no longer be recognized, prompting a frantic search.
“The friend couldn’t recognize Muhumuza’s presence, so he shouted for help,” said Kasasira, the Rwizi region police spokesperson. “It was then that fellow students realized their colleague could have drowned.”
A swift police response ensued, with a search party combing the river on Sunday, unfortunately, the body was not found until later.
“The search for the body was conducted yesterday, but it couldn’t be found. However, it was later retrieved from River Rwizi from the same point he dived in,” Kasasira explained.
He said the deceased body was taken to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination and will be handed over to the family for burial.
Residents in Kakoba said the river is adjacent to the playground where tragic incident occured. They are appealing to local authorities and the.governmemt to fence the playground especially river banks to ensure water safety and the need for vigilance when engaging in aquatic activities.
