A casual worker who reportedly went swimming with colleagues in the waters of Ekishanda Dam in Rukungiri district has drowned.
Kigezi regional Police spokesperson Elly Maate confirmed the incident and said the victim, only identified as Nickson, was around 18 years old.
Nickson, a casual worker from Kigarama cell in Rwerere town council, was reportedly in the company of two friends at the time of the incident.
They were identified as Julius Nabaasa and John Nuwamanya, both of Rwabushanda cell in the same town council.
They apparently set out to hit the waters of the dam located on the Rwakiriba water stream on Friday at around 2:00 pm, Maate said.
He added in his statement that on arrival at the dam, Nickson was the first to jump into the water, but he apparently failed to swim and drowned.
‘The said colleagues tried to rescue him and they almost drowned too.
‘They abandoned [him] and reported to people in the neighbourhood, including the Local Council 1 chairperson Jackson Saturday, who in turn reported to Rwerere Police Station and further to Rukungiri Central Police Station,’ said Maate.
Police visited the scene on Saturday morning, retrieved the body from the water and took it to Rwakabengo Health Centre III pending a post-mortem examination.
Maate said inquiries had been initiated by Police.
