Police in Kira Division have registered a case of death by drowning involving Apio Elsie, a two-year-old child and daughter of David Oki, a pharmacist and resident of Kira Cell, Kira Division, Kira Municipality.
According to preliminary police findings, the incident was reported on December 16, 2025, at about 2:23pm by the child’s father.
Investigations indicate that earlier that day, at about 10am, the father had taken his twin children, both aged two years, to play at a neighbour’s unfinished building near their home.
Police state that the father later returned the children home and left the area to attend to other matters. About an hour later, he reportedly received a call from his wife asking about the whereabouts of one of the children.
"On returning home, the father found his wife and neighbours heading back to the unfinished construction site where the children had earlier been playing," Rachael Kawala, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, said.
"The child was discovered dead, floating in a pool of water that had accumulated in an under-construction swimming pool at the site."
Police were notified and officers visited the scene, which was examined and documented. The body was later conveyed to KCCA Mortuary for postmortem examination.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.
Police have appealed to parents, caretakers and guardians to exercise extra caution and ensure the safety of children, particularly around unfinished buildings, construction sites and water-filled areas that pose serious risks.
Drowning remains a significant and largely preventable public health problem worldwide, claiming an estimated 300 000 – 370 000 lives annually and ranking among the top causes of unintentional injury deaths, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
More than 90 % of these deaths occur in those settings, with children and young people disproportionately affected; nearly a quarter of global drowning fatalities each year are among children under five, and many more involve youths and adults under 30.
Simple, evidence-based interventions such as teaching basic swimming and water safety, training in rescue and resuscitation, installing barriers around dangerous water, and enforcing safe boating and lifejacket use have been shown to reduce drownings where implemented.
Uganda reflects this global burden at a very local scale, with lakes, rivers, dams, ponds and flood-prone areas exposing millions of people to drowning risk.
National studies and police data indicate that the country loses roughly 3 000 lives to drowning each year, an average of about eight to nine deaths per day, and in water-rich regions drowning makes up the majority of maritime deaths.
Children, fishing communities and people engaged in water transport are especially vulnerable.
Recognising both the scale of the problem and its preventability, Ugandan authorities have stepped up efforts in recent years.
In 2025 the government unveiled a National Drowning Prevention Strategic Plan to coordinate multisectoral action, and the Ministry of Works and Transport has urged schools to include swimming and water safety lessons in curricula to equip children with lifesaving skills.
Community organisations such as Reach A Hand Uganda have partnered with government and academic institutions to run survival swimming training, build community pools, raise awareness, and develop guides for structured programmes in high-risk areas.
Technical working groups and push for improved data collection aim to strengthen understanding of drowning patterns and tailor interventions.
While challenges remain in financing, policy enforcement and behaviour change, these efforts mark Uganda’s growing commitment to reducing drownings and aligning with global drowning prevention practice.
