News
Teacher drowns as canoe capsizes on Lake Bunyonyi
According to police, Tumukunde was travelling with a 19-year-old woman identified only as Rebecca on the morning of July 26, 2026, when their canoe overturned. Marine police, assisted by residents, rescued Rebecca alive, but Tumukunde drowned.
The deceased was identified as Tumukunde John, the headteacher of Musamba Primary School in Rubaya subcounty, Ndorwa West county, Kabale district, and a resident of Butebe village, Nyamilyango parish, Rubanda district.
By: Bruno Mugizi, Journalist @New Vision
RUBANDA - A 45-year-old teacher drowned after a canoe capsized on Lake Bunyonyi in Rubanda district while he was travelling to church.
The deceased was identified as John Tumukunde, the headteacher of Musamba Primary School in Rubaya subcounty, Ndorwa West county, Kabale district, and a resident of Butebe village, Nyamilyango parish, Rubanda district.
According to police, Tumukunde was travelling with a 19-year-old woman identified only as Rebecca on the morning of July 26, 2026, when their canoe overturned. Marine police, assisted by residents, rescued Rebecca alive, but Tumukunde drowned.
His body was later retrieved from the lake and taken to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital for a post-mortem examination as police launched investigations into the incident.
His body was later retrieved from the lake and taken to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital for a post-mortem examination as police launched investigations into the incident.
The Kigezi Regional Police spokesperson, Nelson Tumushime, urged people using boats and canoes to observe safety measures.
"We caution all people travelling on lakes to always wear life jackets whenever they are using boats or canoes. Boat operators should also avoid overloading their vessels and ensure that old or damaged boats are replaced to prevent such tragic incidents," Tumushime said.
The latest tragedy comes months after another fatal canoe accident on Lake Bunyonyi on April 21, 2026, in which Joyous Ampurire, 26, and her two-year-old daughter, Witness Akansasira, drowned after a wooden dugout canoe capsized during strong winds.
Police have previously attributed such accidents to strong waves, overloaded canoes, ageing boats, a shortage of life jackets, and passengers' failure to wear them.
"We caution all people travelling on lakes to always wear life jackets whenever they are using boats or canoes. Boat operators should also avoid overloading their vessels and ensure that old or damaged boats are replaced to prevent such tragic incidents," Tumushime said.
The latest tragedy comes months after another fatal canoe accident on Lake Bunyonyi on April 21, 2026, in which Joyous Ampurire, 26, and her two-year-old daughter, Witness Akansasira, drowned after a wooden dugout canoe capsized during strong winds.
Police have previously attributed such accidents to strong waves, overloaded canoes, ageing boats, a shortage of life jackets, and passengers' failure to wear them.