By Andrew Irumba
Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has opened up about a student who drowned in the University swimming pool on Sunday evening.
James Uwimpuhwe who was a second year student of Social Sciences and the Chairman of Rwandan Students Association, died after reportedly getting stuck under the pool as he swam.
Efforts by lifesavers at the pool to rescue him were futile and by the time they rushed him to Abi Clinic in Wandegeya he had already passed on, so he was announced dead on arrival.
While commenting about the unfortunate incident, Prof. Nawangwe tweeted;
“I have received with much shock news of the death of James Uwimpuhwe, a second year Arts student who has drowned in the University swimming pool this evening. A brief to me from the Swimming Pool management indicates that James got stuck while attempting under-water Swimming. Life savers on duty rushed to his rescue, offered Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other first aid but he died on the way to hospital.
I send my condolences to his family and the entire student community. May His Soul Rest In Peace.”
We have established that the deceased hails from Rubavu- Rwanda and efforts to notify his family members and relatives are already underway.
However, this is not the first student to drown in the MUK pool, because last year another student identified as John Paul Mirimu, a student of Information Systems and resident of Nsibirwa Hall died shortly after arrival at Mulago Hospital, after an accident at the same pool.
Investigations in both matters are still on going and the police are yet to issue reports about both cases.
