Four students drown at Lake Nabugabo beach party

Four students from St Joseph Butenga Secondary School in Bukomansimbi district and Prince Kalema SS in Masaka have drowned in Lake Nabugabo during a party.

The incident occured on Sunday evening. 

The Southern Regional Police spokesman Ibin Ssenkumbi confirmed the incident saying Police has so far retrieved three bodies.

They include Ronald Kyazze(16) from Prince Kalema in Mpugwe, Masaka, Frank Mutambuze (17) and John Mukasa both from Butenga SS in Bukomansimbi district. 

The fourth student who is feared dead has not yet been identified. The clothes of the students were found on the lake shores.

The students were under the supervision of the school administrator, Edward Mukasa.

New Vision has learnt that the party was organised by a teacher identified as Dan Lubega.

Philemon Bukenya, Paul Magala, Ibrahim Kyagalanyi and Lawrence Sserunjongi attached to Nabugabo management are under Police custody at Masaka Central Police Station.

Sserunjogi who operates a speed boat at Nabugabo Beach said he saw the students drowning.

He said they were shouting out for help slightly beyond the forbidden water boundary adding that efforts to rescue the victims on time failed. 

The bodies of the deceased have been taken to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital for a post-mortem.

 The teaching staff at Butenga SS fled after they were attacked by angry parents and locals who were demanding for the bodies of the deceased students.

A school senior staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Nabugabo Beach management was partly to blame for the mess. He said the students were not adequately cautioned.

The source said the school would contribute financial support towards the burial expenses.

The Masaka district security committee led by the Masaka Resident District Commissioner, Lt Joe Walusimbi said they plan to convene a meeting with owners of beaches in Masaka over the matter.

He said beaches which will not comply with the required facility standards will be closed.