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Tragedy Strikes as Two Teenage Boys Drown in Christmas Day Swim at Lake Victoria
Jinja, Uganda – In a heartbreaking incident on Christmas Day, two teenage boys lost their lives after drowning in Lake Victoria. The tragedy unfolded at the Masese landing site in Jinja District, located in eastern Uganda, leaving the community in shock and grief.
Eyewitnesses at the scene recounted the harrowing events that led to the unfortunate incident. According to Brian Mungdit, one of the eyewitnesses, the boys were swimming near the shores of the lake when one of them suddenly disappeared into the water. In a desperate attempt to rescue his friend, the second boy went in search of him but tragically met the same fate.
Local divers promptly responded to the distress calls, managing to recover one of the bodies before law enforcement arrived. The Jinja District Police, upon reaching the scene, confirmed that one body had been retrieved from the lake, while a search and rescue operation was underway to locate the second victim.
James Mubi, the spokesperson for the Kiira region police, revealed that the recovered body, belonging to an unidentified juvenile, was transported to Jinja Main Hospital for a postmortem examination. Mubi emphasized the lack of adult supervision during the boys’ swimming excursion.
“The two went to swim at Masese pier without an adult person to monitor their activities and movements,” stated Mubi. He added that despite the efforts of Jinja marine police in searching for the second body, their attempts had been in vain.
The incident serves as a somber reminder of the importance of proper supervision and safety measures, especially during recreational activities involving water. The community is grappling with the shock of losing two young lives on a day meant for celebration, turning Christmas into a day of mourning for the families and friends affected by this tragic event.