Five people of the same family including children have drowned in Lake Bunyonyi, Kabale District, after their canoe capsized.
The incident happened on Wednesday evening, involving a mother, her two daughters and two sisters on Lake Bunyonyi at Kamahirane in Karambo village Ikamiro parish Muko Sub County Rubanda district.
Those involved have been identified as Glorious Tumuhimbise a wife to Edmund Andihihi, residents of Karambo village Ikamiro parish Muko Sub County and their two daughters only identified as a 1 year old Sandra and a two year old Anita.
The others are Tumuhimbise’s two sisters identified as a 9 year old Pretty Kyomugabe and a 7 year old Ronah Ninsiima residents of Rwarubaya village Nyarurambi parish Muko Sub County Rubanda district.
According to an eye witness Ambrose Tumusiime, a resident of Karambo, the tragedy happened when Tumuhimbise was coming from visiting her parents in Rwarubaya Village going back home in Karambo village, with her two daughters, accompanied by her sisters.
Tumusiime said that only Dalton Niwampa a brother in law to Tumuhimbise, who was peddling the canoe managed to swim and rescue himself after heavy winds blew the canoe forcing it to turn upside down.
On 11th this same month, three people all residents of Katete Nkora in Nyamiryango parish Butanda Sub County Kabale district also frowned in L. Bunyonyi as they were coming from Nyamiryango parish sailing back home using a canoe.
Regional police describes the incident as unfortunate. Police reiterates the need for a life jacket while traveling on water.
Records indicate that more than 50 people drown in Lake Bunyonyi every year.
Lake Bunyonyi used by almost all residents of four Sub Counties of Rubaya, Bufundi, Muko and Kamugangunzi, is the second deepest Lake in Africa.
