Mother, two children drown in Lake Muhazi

Two children and their mother died on Saturday after drowning in Lake Muhazi. Local authorities said the body of Margareta Mukeshimana, 25, and her two children, aged two years and nine months, were found floating on the water body after two days of intensive search conducted by area residents, police and fishermen.Residents of Kavumu Village in Gishari Sector of Rwamagana District, where the deceased hailed from believe it must have been a suicide case. The police are still investigating.A by-stander at the lake said the mother of five carried the two-year old child on her back, and held the nine month old in the hands before leaping into the lake.“We saw the woman swimming with the kids and thought she was having fun but were surprised to hear that they had drowned,” said a young boy only identified as Musoni.Claudine Mukandayisenga, a friend to the deceased, described her as a friendly person.“It must have been a suicidal act. This woman was a renown swimmer and there is no way she could have drowned,” she said.“We are deeply saddened. This is unbelievable. Looking at the bodies of the kids, your heart breaks,” she added.Emmanuel Munyankusi, an elder in the area, said the tragedy was the first of its kind in Kavumu village.“Such cases have been rare. Life poses challenges to all of us but suicide can never be a solution,” he said. Nehemie Uwimana, Rwamagana District mayor, said the woman must have committed suicide due to desparation.“We are talking of a poor single young mother of 25 years with five children. I guess it was suicide as a result of hopelessness,” the mayor noted.Other bystanders claimed the deceased tried to save her life but it was too late.

National

Mother, two children drown in Lake Muhazi