Seeta High School is at the center of a tragic incident after a Senior Six student, Kevin Nsamba, drowned in the school’s swimming pool on August 3, prompting a police investigation that now points to lifeguard negligence.
Authorities have confirmed that the lifeguard on duty at the time, Dirisa Kato, will face charges of criminal negligence, after CCTV footage and witness statements indicated he failed to carry out his duties to ensure safety at the facility.
“Our police did its work—visited the scene, retrieved the body, and reviewed the CCTV footage to establish the true account of how the student met his death,” said Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke on Monday.
“We charged the caretaker (lifeguard) because he was entrusted by the school to ensure the safety of students using the pool. He failed in that duty.”
The body of Nsamba was not discovered until nearly 24 hours later, on Monday afternoon, despite the incident occurring a day earlier. Police say his disappearance went unnoticed until evening roll call.
Rusoke added that the lifeguard is currently in custody and that the case file is ready and awaiting guidance from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
A preliminary report by Kampala Metropolitan Police indicates Nsamba jumped into the deep end of the pool without knowing how to swim and while the lifeguard was supposedly supervising the session.
In a statement released last week, school principal Davis Kafumbe said Nsamba and several other students, returning from a football match, entered the pool without authorization and against the school’s swimming guidelines.
“Sadly, the victim, who did not know how to swim, was among them,” Kafumbe said.
“The school administration was unaware of the incident until evening roll call.”
The administration launched a search before notifying the police, who later recovered the body the next day.
Police have warned swimming pool owners and school administrators across the country to exercise greater vigilance in hiring trained and dedicated lifeguards.
“There is a tendency for lifesavers in swimming facilities to focus more on private coaching than lifesaving,” Rusoke warned.
“Because they concentrate on coaching activities, they neglect their core responsibility—saving lives.”
Authorities have also urged institutions to install CCTV cameras around pool areas to enhance supervision and improve response times during emergencies.
The investigation remains ongoing, with the lifeguard expected to appear in court once charges are confirmed by the ODPP.
