RWAMAGANA – A fisherman in Rwamagana District drowned in Lake Muhazi, while another person swam to safety after a hippo attacked their fishing boat on Tuesday.

The district official in charge of Social Affairs, Emmanuel Mukebanyi identified the deceased as Francois Namakiriro, 29, of Kavumu village in Gishari sector.

Mukebanyi said the incident happened at about 7.00 pm.
Residents rushed to the scene but it was too late to save the deceased as he couldn’t swim across the waters, he said.

"The deceased was in the company of another unidentified fisherman and were fishing when a hippo attacked them; it hit the boat causing it to split into parts. One managed to swim off the waters while the other couldn’t,” Viviane Munyanyindo, a neighbour said.

The wife of the deceased, Jeanne Murekatete, described the incident as unfortunate.

"Every year, at least one unfortunate person dies. Not necessarily fishermen…people die fetching water or swimming or just travelling across the water. But the single cause is normally the hippo,” Murekatete said amid tears.

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