5 People Including 2 Babies Drown in Lake Bunyonyi

Five people have died after they drowned in Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale district, South west of Uganda.

The five are reported to have drowned on Tuesday morning at around 10am after their boat capsized, according to Police.

They have been identified as 29-year-old Agnes Turyasingura and 21-year-old Patience Akampurira. The two were together with their children aged 9 months and 8 months who also died.

Another girl identified as Macklin Tumuhekyi, 20, a residence of Hamukaka village Kyenyi parish in Muko subcounty in Rubanda district also died in the calamity.

According to a statement by Kigezi region Police Spokesperson, Elly Matte, the five were using the local boat from Hamukaka landing village crossing to Karambo village where they always cultivate.

“When they reached the middle of the lake because of much wind, the water waves made the boat capsize and and all the five drowned,” Matte said.

Moments later the eight months baby surfaced on the surface of the water body.

Local divers from Kachwekano are searching for the other bodies as police marine unit from Entebbe is expected.

Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake in East Africa after Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania. While people residing near the lake use it often for transport, often using wooden canoes, there have been many incidents of deaths by drowning.

“We have always urged people living near lakes to ensure they use protective gear including life jackets and empty jerrycans with leads on, for the safety of their lives,” Matte said.