Police seal off beaches after deaths

Dec 30, 2015

The Police recovered 13 bodies of suspected revelers who likely drowned in the lake.


The Police have temporarily closed four beaches in Entebbe, until investigations into the death of 13 revelers suspected to have drowned in Lake Victoria on Boxing Day is complete.


__________________________________


The Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, said a team of detectives, led by the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) deputy director, Godfrey Musana, Tuesday visited a number of beaches and ordered the managers to halt operations.

Enanga also said they tasked beach managers to avail lists of all persons employed as lifesavers at the various beaches for questioning.

Lifesavers are strong swimmers and trained in first aid who supervise the safety and rescue of swimmers on a beach.

However, Enanga declined to name the affected beaches.The Police on Monday recovered 13 bodies of suspected revelers, who likely drowned in the lake during the festive season.

The bodies were discovered along the shores near the airport and around beaches in Entebbe.

The Police suspect that some of the deceased went to swim when they were drunk; others allegedly swam beyond the demarcated areas and there were no attempts to stop them.

The situation on the lake is said to have worsened with strong waves after 5:00pm when swimmers had increased. Several Police officers were deployed, but failed to control the situation, until the Military Police was called in.

"No business is taking place at the affected beaches where bodies were recovered until investigations are complete. The places are scenes of crime," Enanga told a press conference at the Central Police Station in Kampala.

 When contacted, the Entebbe town clerk, Richard Monday said he was not aware of the closure of the beaches.

However, Enanga revealed that Aviation Police and Entebbe Municipal Council officials were still locked up in a meeting by press time. Brian Ssekiziyivu, a survivor, said he had gone with one Kabonge (one of the deceased) to Aero Beach.

"Kabonge's mother had stopped him from leaving home but as great friends, we convinced her, until she allowed him to go. She was displeased with me after learning of her son's death," narrated Ssekiziyiyu.

The officer in charge of Entebbe Police Station, Gloria Turinawe, said the rules and regulations that govern beaches should be revised to include an age limit.

Enanga said three bodies, seemingly of teenagers aged between 15 and 20, are still lying at Mulago Hospital's mortuary.

The bodies that have been identified and taken include Brian Nsubuga of Kayunga, Allan Mubiru (Nateete), Abubaker Ssensonyia (Kawempe-Kigagga zone), Sula Kato (Kabalagala), Arafat Kabonge, Richard Senyondo, Sunday Migambi, Haruna Mubiru, Abdul Magidu and Abdu Wekayeli.

Enanga appealed to anyone who has a missing person to visit the Mulago mortuary and check whether their relatives could be among the unidentified bodies.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});