MUKONO, Uganda – After nearly 24 hours of silence, Seeta High School has confirmed the death of Senior Six student Kevin Nsamba, who drowned in the school’s swimming pool on Sunday, August 3, 2025 — an incident that has shaken the Mukono community and reignited debate over school safety.
In an official statement signed by Principal Davis Kafumbe, the school claims Nsamba was part of a group of students who “without authorization and outside the school’s swimming guidelines, ran towards and jumped into the swimming pool” following a football game.
“Sadly, the victim, who did not know how to swim, was among them,” Kafumbe noted, adding that the school only realized Nsamba was missing during evening roll call, triggering a search.
The delay in discovering Nsamba’s absence — and in informing the police — has fueled parental outrage, with some accusing the school of trying to “cover up” or downplay the incident.
The body was recovered the next day during a joint search involving the police and the student’s family. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed that a case of suspected drowning was registered and the school’s pool trainer is now in custody to aid the investigation.
CCTV footage is under review, and the body was transported to Mulago City Mortuary for postmortem examination.
This tragedy adds to an already disturbing pattern. Just three months ago, Seeta High’s main campus reported the death of 16-year-old Elishama Ssesaazi, found hanging in a dormitory. Before that, a teacher was killed walking home, and more recently, a student at Mpoma Girls’ School died by self-immolation in a separate Mukono District case.
With State Minister for Higher Education Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo also the school’s proprietor, critics have raised conflict-of-interest concerns and are demanding stricter oversight of privately owned schools — especially when connected to government officials.
Safety concerns have now become a national issue, with lawmakers, educators, and parents calling for urgent reforms, including mandatory lifeguards, stricter pool access control, and emergency preparedness training.
Principal Kafumbe said the school was “in deep sorrow” and offered condolences:
“We mourn this great loss and pray that his soul may rest in eternal peace.”
But for many, sorrow isn’t enough. With the 2023 Uganda Police Crime Report listing over 500 drowning deaths, parents are demanding not just sympathy — but accountability.
