Senior Four Student Drowns in Lake Bunyonyi While Attempting to Swim

Police in Rubanda District are investigating the drowning of Samuel Amanya, a 22-year-old Senior Four candidate from Lake Bunyonyi Senior Secondary School. The incident occurred on Saturday, October 3, 2026, when Amanya attempted to swim across Lake Bunyonyi after his dugout canoe was moved from its original position.

According to Kigezi Regional Police spokesperson Nelson Tumushime, Amanya had paddled his canoe from the Katoma area to Itambira Island. Upon returning, he discovered the canoe had been relocated. Believing he could swim the distance, Amanya entered the water but unfortunately failed to reach his destination and drowned between Itambira and Bwama islands.

Police marine officers, with assistance from local divers, managed to retrieve Amanya’s body from the lake. While initial findings suggest drowning, a formal inquiry has been opened to ascertain all the circumstances surrounding the death. The police have urged parents, guardians, school administrators, and community leaders to emphasize water safety to students, particularly advising against swimming in deep waters without supervision or life-saving equipment.

Amanya’s death is the latest in a series of tragic incidents involving students on Lake Bunyonyi. Recent years have seen several other student drownings due to capsized canoes during rough weather, including incidents in April 2022, August 2023, and August 2024. Local leaders are renewing their calls for improved water transport safety measures, suggesting that the proposed government ferry service could significantly reduce the risks associated with vulnerable dugout canoes.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/senior-four-candidate-drowns-in-lake-bunyonyi-5619032