A somber mood has engulfed Tororo District following the tragic drowning of a young pupil, Oguti Gabriel, a Primary Three student at Rock View Primary School. The incident occurred on Monday at around 1:00 PM near Nyangole Bridge in Eastern Division.
According to police reports, the deceased and his classmates had left school during their lunch break when the unfortunate incident happened. Witnesses say the young boy slipped into the water, prompting desperate attempts by his peers to save him. Sadly, their efforts were in vain.
The Tororo Territorial Police, along with the Regional Fire Fighting and Rescue team, homicide officers, and the Directorate of Scenes of Crime (D/SOCO), rushed to the scene upon receiving the alert. Despite their swift response, they were unable to rescue the child.
With the help of local community members, Gabriel’s body was later retrieved from the water. Police documented the scene, recorded statements from witnesses, and transported the body to Tororo General Hospital for a postmortem examination.
Authorities have expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the young life and extended condolences to the grieving family.
“We regret losing such a young soul and pray that God comforts the bereaved family during this painful time,” said IP Mugwe J Moses, the Police Public Relations Officer for Bukedi South Region.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances that led to the drowning. The police have urged parents and schools to reinforce safety awareness among children, particularly near water bodies.
