Police have said they have preferred charges of negligence against Dirisa Kato, the lifesaver for Seeta High School who was in charge of the swimming pool when the student drowned.
Kevin Nsamba, 21, a senior six student last week drowned in the school swimming pool following a football match.
Police spokesperson, Kituuma Rusoke told journalists on Monday that the lifesaver was arrested to aid in investigations.
“ The file is ready. We held him accountable because in our investigation we feel he has an explanation to give since school apportioned him responsibility at the swimming pool where the student died. He is with us to give us explanation and accountability,” Rusoke told journalists.
He said criminal responsibility is for individuals and not the institution.
“Our officers visited the scene, retrieved the body and the CCTV footage was looked into to establish the true account of how student met his death . We charged the caretaker(lifesaver) because he is one person whom the school gave responsibility to ensure safety of the persons or students who come to enjoy the swimming pool. Our investigators found him as one who has to answer questions since he was responsibility.”
The police spokesperson said the file will soon be forwarded to the resident state attorney for perusal and advice on the next course of action which could also entail taking the suspect to court.
Rusoke however warned lifesavers against turning to other work, apart from lifesaving.
“There is a tendency of lifesavers in most swimming pool facilities mainly engaging in coaching activities instead of being observers. Because they concentrate on coaching activities they forget their core responsibility of lifesaving. Many of these renegade on their core responsibility because the coaching activities they engage in come with a fee.”
He urged proprietors of premises with swimming pool to be cautious of the people they hire as lifesavers to ensure they are up to standard.
