Three children aged between 5 and 12 years and all coming from the same family, drowned last Friday while rescuers managed to save the fourth child.
It is alleged that the deceased had defied their mother’s directive stopping them from washing their clothes from the lake shores when the nasty incident occurred.
According to onlookers, the four children, two boys and two girls and children of John Kibereji and Allen Kulabako, residents of Mulogo village in Namatale parish, Bweema sub-county in Buvuma islands, had been stopped by their mother from going to wash their clothes on the lake shores in preparation for beginning of the new school term on Monday February 10.
However, when both parents went to buy silver fish ‘mukene’ and left them by themselves, the four including Seera Tolofayina (12) in Primary Four, Livingstone Mulakama (8) in Primary Two, Enock Kibereji (5) in Primary One, and Scovia Nabweteme (9), hurriedly went to the lake to wash, taking with them balloons for playing with on the lake. While playing, they slid and fell into the deep water whereupon the first three drowned while Scovia Nabweteme was saved by the rescuers who happened to be within the vicinity.
Two bodies were immediately recovered on Friday while the third one surfaced on Sunday.
The trio’s burial ceremony attracted hundreds of mourners from different landing sites and from the mainland. The deceased and the surviving child were learners of St. Matilda Nursery and Primary School located at Mulogo village and during the burial, their teacher identified as Maria Assumpta Namutebi implored parents to be strict concerning their children doing their laundry on the shores of the lake to avoid such mishaps.
Namutebi was echoed by Mulogo village chairperson, Kalifan Bogere who warned parents against sending children of tender age to the lake unaccompanied.
The burial was attended by high profile dignitaries in the district including the area member of parliament, Robert Migadde Ndugwa, the district NRM chairperson Friday Wandera, the former district vice Chairperson, Harriet Nakizito Musiho and others.
In their burial eulogies, speaker after speaker condemned the act of giving children liberty to go on errands to the lake without the company of adults.
MP Migadde urged the bereaved parents not to lose heart over the loss of their children but draw their hearts closer to the creator, well knowing that it is He that gives and takes at will.