A 12-year-old boy has drowned in Mundri East County’s Ohwo Dam, Western Equatoria State.

Sgt. Natania Baya Felemona, police investigator and crime officer, said the incident occurred on Saturday morning.

“A 12-year-old boy went with his sister to wash their clothes in a dam called Ohwo dam in Lui Payam early today.

“Unfortunately, while her sister was washing the clothes, her 12-year-old brother went swimming (playing) on the other side of the dam, only [for her to realise that the boy drowned when she returned],” Sgt. Baya explained.

He said the deceased was studying in Uganda and had just come home for a holiday.

According to the officer, the boy was supposed to return to Uganda shortly after spending two weeks in Lui.

“The young child has recently arrived from Uganda, where he spent around 14 days with his grandmother, and I believe that he was scheduled to return to Uganda for his education. That was the most tragic event that occurred here, “he revealed.

He said the community members and the area leadership were concerned by the regrettable incident and empathised with the family that lost the son.

However, Sgt. Baya urged Lui residents to exercise care for their children, emphasising the importance of ensuring their safety around dangerous places like dams.

The incident comes just two months after two teenagers drowned in the Eyei River, in Mundri West County, in two separate incidents early this year.

This prompted authorities to issue a similar warning to parents, advising them not to send their children to bathe in the river unless they are accompanied by adults.

 “Children need our care. Their protection will always come from us as parents and guardians, as well as those with nodding disease, because they are already mentally disturbed, not of their own making but by the disease.

 “I and you need to be responsible for following in their footsteps,’’ said Lt. Double Seven, Mundri Police Inspector, after the incident.