By Alfred Opio
Pallisa, Uganda — Residents of Kinomu Village in Agule Sub-county, Pallisa District, have been left in shock following the tragic drowning of a Senior Five student at Lake Nyaguo.
The deceased has been identified as James Okanya, 25, a Senior Five student at Kanabatiko Senior Secondary School in Kaliro District.
According to preliminary reports, Okanya met his death at around 5:00 p.m. while fishing on the lake. It is alleged that the boat he was using capsized after being struck by strong winds.
At the time of the incident, he was in the company of two colleagues who survived after swimming to safety.
Following the accident, the survivors reportedly rushed to inform the deceased’s parents, who later alerted local leaders before proceeding to the scene.
By press time, search efforts were still ongoing and the body had not yet been retrieved.
Gideon Omijo, the Agule Sub-county district councillor-elect, confirmed the incident and attributed the tragedy to the use of an unsafe and unrecommended boat.
According to Omijo, the vessel was small, in poor condition, and had visible holes, making it unsuitable for use on the lake, especially during windy conditions.
“The boat they were using was not safe. It was small and damaged, which made it vulnerable to strong winds,” he said.
The deceased’s father, John Charles Otim, described the incident as a devastating loss to the family.
He said his son had been academically bright and had never repeated a class since primary school. Okanya reportedly aspired to become a lawyer — a dream now cut short by the tragedy.
Local leaders and residents have since called on relevant authorities to enforce stricter safety regulations on fishing activities, particularly targeting the widespread use of unsafe boats.
They warn that without stronger enforcement and sensitization on water safety, similar incidents could continue to occur, putting more lives at risk.
