Residents living along the shores of Lake Bunyonyi have appealed to government to introduce swimming education in schools and communities to help reduce frequent drowning incidents.
The call was amplified during the burial of two victims—21-year-old Bruce Aineplan, a Senior Four student at Lake Bunyonyi Secondary School, and Dickson Kabagambe, a cook at Asiimwe Preparatory School in Kitumba Sub-county—who drowned last Sunday while returning home to Rubaya Sub-county.
Their bodies were recovered after a week-long search by residents.
Nicholas Kajumba, headteacher of Lake Bunyonyi Secondary School, said drowning cases have been common in the area since 2007.
He explained that while his school had introduced private swimming lessons, government support was needed to extend such training to all schools near the lake.
“As a school, we have private swimming lessons but they are voluntary. We call on government to support us so that school-going children are equipped with swimming skills,” Kajumba said. He also urged the government to provide motorboats to ease transport across the lake.
Ronald Asiimwe, director of Asiimwe Preparatory School, attributed the continued drownings to the absence of life jackets for those who rely on canoes.
He called for government intervention to supply life jackets and introduce a ferry service to improve transport safety.
NRM flag bearer for Ndorwa West constituency, Eliab Naturinda Mporera, echoed these concerns, suggesting that each local council chairperson around the lake be equipped with life jackets for distribution.
“What is important now is to have improved boats with enough capacity, vigilant rescue groups, and education on the use of life jackets,” he said.
Statistics indicate that nearly 10 people drown in Lake Bunyonyi every year, with most accidents occurring during the dry season—underscoring the urgent need for swimming education, improved transport, and stronger safety enforcement.
