Rwamagana student drowns in Lake Muhazi

The body of a student at Kabare Secondary School in Rwamagana District, who went missing two days ago, was yesterday morning found in Lake Muhazi.

Lake Muhazi

Fabrice Sengimana, 19, who was in Senior Four, was found at 11am by a rescue operation conducted mainly by fishermen.

Family members helped confirm his identity before the body was taken to Rwamagana Hospital for a post-mortem.

The incident has caused an outcry from residents in the area, with many requesting for full investigation of what would have caused the death of the young man.

Manasseh Niyonzima, who resides in the area and a close friend of the deceased, said the cause of the death remains a mystery.

“We were with the deceased at the lake at around 2pm…he had gone to wash his clothes, while I was grazing a cow nearby. I left the cow with him and crossed to the other side of the lake, only to find the cow alone with Fabrice missing,” he said.

Niyonzima added: “We used a boat to search in the lake without success. It is hard to tell the cause of his death; because there are no dangerous animals in and around the sides of the lake. An investigation is needed.”

Sengimana, whose parents hail from Huye District in Southern Province, lived with his aunt in Rwamagana District.

The school administrators said that the student’s death is a blow to Kabare community, adding that the deceased was bright in class and an active member of different engagements at the school.

Myth

Jacqueline Kayitesi, a local leader, said that none of the accounts so far given gave proper clue on the possible cause of the death.

“His colleagues, who were with him shortly before his death, are not consistent in the accounts they are giving us…the body doesn’t look like that of a person who drowned, there is a lot of scepticism around this case,” said Kayitesi.

She, however, also said water scarcity compelled children to go to the deadly lake in search of water.

“We could witness other tragedies of children drowning…the only existing borehole broke down a couple of months ago. Parents must be careful and avoid sending young children to the lake.”

By Stephen Rwembeho, The New Times

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