Senior Four Student Drowns Attempting to Swim Across Lake Bunyonyi

Tragedy has struck Lake Bunyonyi as Samuel Amanya, a 22-year-old Senior Four student from Lake Bunyonyi Senior Secondary School-Bwama, lost his life.

The incident occurred on October 3, 2026, when Amanya reportedly paddled a canoe from Katoma to Itambira Island. Upon arrival, he found that the canoe he had used was no longer at the landing site.

Faced with the disappearance of his transport, Amanya made the perilous decision to swim back to Bwama Island. Tragically, he drowned midway between Itambira and Bwama islands.

Police marine officers, assisted by local divers, managed to retrieve Amanya’s body from the lake. Preliminary findings suggest drowning as the cause of death, but a full investigation is underway to ascertain the exact circumstances.

Kigezi police spokesperson, Nelson Tumushime, has urged caution, advising parents, guardians, and schools to warn students against swimming in the deep waters of Lake Bunyonyi without proper safety measures like adult supervision and life jackets.

Lake Bunyonyi, with its numerous islands, relies heavily on canoes for daily life, connecting communities to essential services such as schools, health centers, and markets.