Water crisis: Shock as pupil drowns in Sembabule water dam

Pupils and teachers of Mussi Primary school in Sembabule District have been left in shock after one of their pupils drowned in a water dam.
Sharon Kyomugisha, a seven-year-old primary one pupil fell into the dam when she went with colleagues to fetch water, according to her father James Byaruhanga.
Mr Byaruhanga, a resident of Kasongode village, in Lugusulu Sub County said their area is grappling with the challenge of water scarcity, forcing residents to share water with animals.

He said they trek long distances to access water for domestic use and asked the area leaders to help them get safe clean water.
Locals claim that they have been asking the district leaders to dig boreholes for them to address the challenge of people dying in open water sources but they have not been taking them serious.
Robert Mukasa, a resident of Kasongonde village said their area has lost several residents this year due to drowning in search for either clean water for domestic use or animal consumption.

“A jerrycan of clean safe water in some places go for Shs600 during a rainy season. It can go up to Shs1000 during dry seasons,” he said adding that most residents resort to collecting water from unsafe places like ponds, dams and swamps where animals also drink from.
The Southern Regional Police Commander Latif Zaake has warned parents against sending children to water sources because they risk drowning.
He said police with the help of residents managed to retrieve Kyomugisha’s body from the water and taken it to hospital for autopsy as investigations continue.

The incident brings the number of people who have drowned in water sources in Sembabule to five since the month started.
Last Friday, a senior four student at Matete Town College School in Sembabule District who had just completed his O level exams died in a pond where he had gone with colleagues to swim after his final UCE paper.