English
Kinyarwanda
The negligence of some parents and guardians, especially those residing near water bodies contribute to drowning of children who play in or around these dangerous water sources.
This is after it came to light that some children who have drowned in the recent past had either been left unattended at home or were not bared from playing in water bodies.
Cases of drowning have been reported in lakes, rivers, dams and wetlands in different parts of the country.
On Saturday in Mayange, Bugesera District, a 15 years old boy identified drowned in a water pool and died instantly. He was apparently swimming alone when the sadden incident.
Two other drowning cases were reported in Rusizi and Rutsiro district claiming lives of a 48 years old woman identified as Aisha Mukamusoni and a 20-year old Theogene Uwiringiyimana.
Majority cases of drowning involve children, according to Police.
“This was an unfortunate but preventable act, if the victim was bared or more so accompanied, he probably would have been saved,” Police Marine Unit Commanding officer Superintendent of Police (SP) Alphonse Busingye, said referring to the deceased teen boy.
Busingye challenged parents, guardians and head teachers to always be on look out for their children and pupils respectively to avoid such disasters.
With regards to adults that drowned, Supt. Busingye urged the public to refrain from getting into water bodies if they don’t have swimming skills.
Mukamusoni drowned in Ruhwa stream as she swam her way back into Rwanda from Burundi where she had gone to visit her relatives while Uwiringiyimana drowned as he was swimming in Lake Kivu.
He also appealed to everyone to always call Police toll-free lines – 110 (maritime),111 (fire) and 112 (emergency), for immediate rescue.
