A Senior One student of Lake Bunyonyi Vocational Secondary School in Kabale District has drowned in Lake Bunyonyi, just days after the head teacher at another school died in the same lake. The student, identified as Roland Ampeire, a resident of Kashenyi Village, Butenga Parish in Rubaya Sub-county, drowned on Sunday at around midday.
According to area resident Dickson Kamuhanda, a group of students had sought permission from their school matron to walk to the lake and wash their clothes. However, while at the lakeshore, Ampeire reportedly entered the water without a life jacket or a guide and began swimming.
Kamuhanda said the student drowned while swimming, and his body was recovered by residents on Monday at about 8:50 am. The incident comes less than two weeks after Johnson Spencer Tumukunde, a 45-year-old head teacher of Musamba Government Primary School, drowned in the same lake.
Tumukunde drowned on Sunday, July 26, 2026, after the canoe he was travelling in capsized near Kyevu Landing Site and Market in Butanda Sub-county. He was crossing Lake Bunyonyi from his home in Butebe Village to Musamba Church of Uganda in Rubaya Sub-county, where he was expected to assist with Sunday school activities.
Tumukunde was travelling with 21-year-old Rebecca Ndamwesiga when strong waves overturned their canoe, throwing both occupants into the water. Residents from Kyevu Landing Site managed to rescue Ndamwesiga, but Tumukunde disappeared beneath the water and was swept away.
His body was recovered six days later, on Friday, July 31, at about 12:40 pm. The two incidents have renewed concerns about safety measures for people using Lake Bunyonyi, particularly students and other travellers who venture onto or into the water without appropriate safety equipment-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
