A 70-year-old woman and another female adult remain missing two days after reportedly drowning in Lake Bunyonyi in Kitumba Sub-county, Kabale District.
The missing individuals have been identified as Jennifer Nyabukyerera, a resident of Rubanda District, and Medius Ngyenda. According to reports, the two women drowned after the canoe they were traveling in capsized.
Police report that the incident occurred on Tuesday at around 7:00 PM near the Musingwe and Katooma border on Lake Bunyonyi. Five people were in the canoe during heavy rain when it was overturned by strong waves. Three of the individuals managed to swim to safety, but Nyabukyerera and Ngyenda did not resurface and remain unaccounted for.
The case was reported at the Marine Police Detach on Lake Bunyonyi by Afrika Elly, 44, a resident of Muhinga village in Kitumba Sub-county.
Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson, Elly Maate, stated that the officer in charge of the Marine Detach and his team responded to the scene and launched a search operation, which has so far been unsuccessful.
Maate confirmed that a case file has been opened and investigations are underway.
Marine officers, together with area local leaders, visited the scene, recorded relevant statements from witnesses, and are continuing the search for the missing victims.
He urged the public to always wear protective gear such as life jackets or carry floatation aids like sealed jerrycans when using water transport, to prevent such tragic incidents.
