MITYANA — A six-year-old girl has died after being swept away by fast-moving rainwater during a heavy downpour in Mityana Municipality, police have confirmed.
The deceased has been identified as Shifah Nagayi, a pupil at Hilton Primary School and daughter of Kibirige Sulaiman and Namata Hadijah, residents of Buswabulongo Ward in Busimbi Division, Mityana Municipality.
According to Wamala Regional Police spokesperson Lameck Kigozi, preliminary investigations indicate that children in the area commonly play in rainwater and flooded drainage channels during heavy rains.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, June 6, 2026, following a heavy downpour that left several drainage channels overflowing. Nagayi reportedly joined other children who were playing in the rapidly flowing rainwater.
”During the activity, she was overpowered by strong currents and swept into a drainage channel,” Kigozi said.
Residents and local authorities immediately launched a search for the child. However, she was later found dead several hours later after water levels had subsided.
Officers from the Mityana Police Homicide Team visited the scene, documented the incident, and transported the body to the mortuary for a postmortem examination.
Following the tragedy, police have urged parents and guardians across Mityana and the wider Wamala Region to keep children indoors during adverse weather conditions and ensure close supervision whenever heavy rains occur.
Authorities warned that playing in rainwater and flooded drainage channels exposes children to serious dangers, including strong water currents, flooding, lightning strikes, and hailstorms, all of which can be fatal.
Kigozi further called on communities to remain vigilant and prioritize children’s safety during the rainy season to prevent similar incidents.
