Three children from the same family drowned in Lake Victoria last Friday after they defied their mother’s directive to stay away from the water. A fourth child was rescued by onlookers.
The victims, identified as Seera Tolofayina, 12, Livingstone Mulakama, 8, and Enock Kibereji, 5, were siblings and residents of Nakibizzi landing site in Mulogo village, Namatale parish, Bweema sub-county in the Buvuma Islands.
They had gone to wash clothes in the lake despite their mother’s warnings, while their parents, John Kibereji and Allen Kulabako, were away buying mukene fish.
According to eyewitnesses, the children carried balloons to play with as they did their laundry.
However, tragedy struck when they slipped and fell into the lake.
Only Scovia Nabweteme, the fourth child, was rescued by nearby residents who rushed to the scene.
Two bodies were retrieved immediately, while the third surfaced the following day. The victims were laid to rest on Sunday.
During the burial, Maria Assumpta Namutebi, a teacher from St. Matilda Nursery and Primary School, where the children were enrolled, urged parents to be vigilant and prevent their children from doing laundry in the lake.
Her concerns were echoed by Kalifan Bogere, the LC I Chairman for Mulogo village, who warned against sending young children to the lake unaccompanied.
The funeral was attended by several local dignitaries, including Buvuma County MP Robert Migadde Ndugwa, District NRM Chairperson Friday Wandera, and former LC V Vice Chairperson Harriet Nakizito Musiho.
In their addresses, speakers condemned the practice of allowing children to run errands at the lake without adult supervision.
MP Migadde consoled the bereaved parents, urging them to seek solace in their faith.
Authorities have since renewed calls for increased safety measures and community sensitization to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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