5 students drown in L.Bunyoyi

May 13, 2009

Five students of St. Barnabus Secondary School in Rubaya sub-county, Kabale district on Monday afternoon died when their canoe capsized in Lake Bunyonyi. They were returning from a christian youth conference at Mugyera Catholic Parish in Kabale district.

By Bwogi Buyera

Five students of St. Barnabus Secondary School in Rubaya sub-county, Kabale district on Monday afternoon died when their canoe capsized in Lake Bunyonyi. They were returning from a christian youth conference at Mugyera Catholic Parish in Kabale district.

The Kamuganguzi sub-county LC3 chairman, Denis Nzeirwe, blamed the deaths on over-loading the boat and the strong winds and heavy rain on the lake.

Fishermen managed to rescue two victims, a woman only identified as Sefaronia and an unidentified student of St. Adrine School, Rubanda.

Nzeirwe identified the dead as Phiona Kitaburaza, Felix Mubanga, Gerald Tushabe-Omuhangi, Mocius and Peter Akampurira.

The area MP, David Bahati, expressed concern over the rate at which people were drowning in Lake Bunyonyi.

“The procurement of a motorised boat will save lives of the over 500 people who cross the lake daily,” he said.

Bahati advised the people who use the lake to buy life jackets and learn how to swim.

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