Police in Buwunga are investigating circumstances under which three children drowned in a sand mine pond in Masaka district.

This incident happened in the late hours of Sunday, September 15, 2024, in Misansala village, Buwunga sub-county in Masaka district, which left three children dead.

The deceased have been identified as Byron Kigula, aged 6 years; Brian, aged 3 years, all sons of Juliet Nalunga, a teacher at Little Angels Nursery School in Misansala; and Junior Kateregga, aged 6 years, a son to Senior Kateregga, a neighbor to the school.

Sam Kiguli, a local, said that the three children followed an unknown man who was going to the river to fetch water; however, one of the bodies was found by the locals at around 7:00 p.m. floating on water, while the other two bodies were discovered under water in the pond.

’’People have been digging sand from the river banks; however, the huge holes were left open, and when it recently rained, water filled them, so it is believed that these kids might have been swimming when they drowned, yet they were not professionals, or maybe someone killed them and dumped them in these ponds,’’ Kiguli revealed.

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In an interview with journalists on September 16, 2024, SP Twaha Kasirye, the Greater Masaka police spokesperson, said that investigations are underway to ascertain what caused the children’s deaths.

He added that it was wrong for the victims to be left alone at the sand mines without adult supervision, yet there were ponds filled with water.

’’It was wrong of the young man to leave the three children alone at the sand mine ponds without adult supervision because these ponds might have been deep, hence why they drowned; however, investigations are underway to find out what caused their death,’’ Kasirye noted.

Kasirye said that police are also looking for the young man who was seen walking with the children to the river to aid in investigations.

These incidents underscore the urgent need for increased safety measures and parental supervision around water bodies to prevent further tragedies in the region.

In December 2023, three children aged between 8 and 11 years drowned in a gold mine pit filled with water in Busia district when they had gone swimming in the isolated and unguarded dumping site.