A woman and her two-year-old daughter have died following a tragic canoe accident on Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale District.
The deceased, identified only as Joyous, and her child were residents of Kagugo-Murungu Village in Kitooma Parish, Rubaya Sub-county. The incident occurred on Monday at around 8:30 p.m.
According to a local resident, Dickson Kamuhanda, Joyous had been travelling in a canoe alongside two unidentified men as they returned from a burial in the area.
They were reportedly coming back from the burial of an elderly man, Enock Byanyima, in Kyevu Village, Nyamiryango Parish, Butanda Sub-county.
“While crossing the lake, strong winds suddenly picked up, causing the canoe to overturn. The two men managed to swim to safety, but Joyous and her daughter were unable to escape and drowned,” Kamuhanda said.
Another resident, Oscar Birungi, said community members quickly launched a search operation after the incident was reported.
Joyous’ body was recovered on Tuesday morning, but the body of her daughter had not yet been found by the time of reporting.
It has also been noted that the group was travelling in a wooden canoe without life jackets at the time of the accident, a factor that locals say worsened the outcome of the tragedy.
Search efforts are ongoing as authorities and community members continue to comb the waters of Lake Bunyonyi.
