MUBENDE, Uganda: 17 October 2026— A morning downpour turned fatal in Mubende Municipality on Saturday after a young pupil was swept away and drowned by fast-flowing floodwaters while playing outside his family’s home.
The deceased has been identified as Ronnie Thadeus Prosper, a pupil at Kasumba Nursery and Primary School. The tragic incident occurred around 8:00 a.m. in Kibaati Cell, East Division, Mubende District.
According to a police statement released by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Lameck Kigozi, the Regional Police Spokesperson for Wamala, the young boy had stepped out of the house alongside his elder brother to play in the running water during a heavy torrential rainstorm.
Disaster struck when Ronnie was suddenly overpowered by the swift current and carried away by the deluge. His helpless elder brother rushed back indoors to raise an alarm with their aunt, informing her of the ordeal.
Although the aunt and immediate neighbors launched an urgent search-and-rescue effort, they were initially unable to locate the boy. The incident was promptly reported to the Mubende Central Police Station by Mr. Godfrey Okodi, an employee of Biyinzika Poultry.
A police response team led by the Mubende District Police Command and a specialized homicide squad joined local residents in an expanded search.
The victim’s body was later discovered and retrieved from the floodwaters in the neighboring Kabasojo Village. Police detectives examined and documented the scene before conveying the body to Mubende Regional Referral Hospital for a postmortem examination. Witness statements have since been recorded as investigations continue.
Following the heartbreak, police issued a stern caution to parents and guardians across the region regarding child safety during the rainy season.
”We appeal to our people in the Wamala region to always keep a keen eye on their children when it is raining,” said SSP Kigozi. “Playing in the rain is extremely dangerous to children as it carries numerous risks, including being swept away by running water, drowning in open drainage channels, or being struck by lightning.”
