Lira, Uganda | A five-year-old child has tragically drowned in a swimming pool at Happy Haven Children’s Park, located in Adyel, Lira-City West.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of 13th September 2025 and has sparked a police investigation.
The child, identified as part of a group of young children on a recreational outing, had been with a guardian, Edok Peace, at the park.
At around 4:00 PM, the child reportedly left the group and headed towards the swimming pool, which features both shallow and deep sections.
According to eyewitness accounts, the child entered an area of the pool where the water was 3.3 feet deep and was unable to swim.
Efforts by bystanders to rescue the child were unsuccessful.
The pool attendant, who was present at the time, failed to intervene or offer assistance, prompting concerns regarding the level of supervision at the facility.
The attendant was subsequently arrested by police for questioning.
The local police, led by the Officer in Charge (OC) of the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) for Lira-City Central, responded to the scene. A
team of investigators, including members of the homicide squad and scene-of-crime officers, arrived to document the scene and collect statements from witnesses.
The child’s body was transported to Lira Regional Referral Hospital, where a post-mortem was conducted.
Preliminary results confirmed that the cause of death was drowning.
Authorities have opened a case under reference DEF 12/2025 to probe the circumstances surrounding the drowning.
The investigation is focused on determining whether safety protocols were violated at the park and if negligence contributed to the incident.
In response to the tragic event, SP PJ Okema, the police spokesperson for North Kyoga Region, extended condolences to the family of the deceased.
He underscored the critical need for stronger safety regulations at recreational facilities, particularly those with swimming pools, to protect children.
This incident has raised questions about the enforcement of safety standards at children’s parks and public swimming areas, with local residents calling for stricter measures to ensure that such a tragedy is not repeated.
