Two children were swept away and killed by fast-flowing floodwaters from Mount Muhabura in Nyarusiza Sub-county, Kisoro District, in separate incidents on Friday, local authorities said.

The victims were identified as Blair Nyirabanasi, 6, a resident of Rucyantege Village, and Moris Maniragaba, 8, from Mwanjari Village, both in Gitenderi Parish, Nyarusiza Sub-county.

The children were swept away while fetching firewood during heavy rainfall. Nyirabanasi was carried off shortly after midday, while Maniragaba died later in the afternoon, around 4:00 p.m.

According to Nyarusiza Sub-county LC3 Chairperson Erasmus Nsabimana, Nyirabanasi’s body was recovered about four kilometres away in Kabaya Village at around 2:00 p.m.

Maniragaba’s body was later found at approximately 7:00 p.m. in Mubuga Village, about two kilometres from his home village of Mwanjari, after an extensive community search.

“After discovering the body of the first victim, I received information that another child, a grandson of David who had gone to fetch firewood, was also missing. I mobilized people, and we traced the water stretching from Mount Muhabura. We found the body trapped by roots in Mubuga Village, about two kilometers from Mwanjari,” Nsabimana said.

Gad Dushimimana, the father of Nyirabanasi, said he was at home when he received news of his daughter’s death after she had gone to collect firewood, describing the loss as a profound shock to the family.

David Ndayambaje, the grandfather of Maniragaba, said he learned of the tragedy from the LC1 Chairperson and rushed to the scene to confirm it.

“He has been helping with house chores, and now he is no more. What will I do? I am no longer able to do some work by myself,” the sobbing grandfather told Monitor.

Local leaders warned that the area remains highly vulnerable to deadly floods and mudflows from Mount Muhabura.

David Sebutozi, LC1 Chairperson of Mwanjari Village, said similar tragedies had occurred before and called for urgent government intervention.

“This is not the first incident for us people staying at the foot of Mount Muhabura. You recall in 2022, ten people died from mudslides due to running water from that hill. I call upon the government to come out and support these families who have lost their children and also construct bridges to enable safe movement of people,” Sebutozi said.

Emmanuel Bizimana, LC1 Chairperson of Ruchantegye Village, said his village alone has three deep open water channels that become extremely dangerous during heavy rains.

He warned that without intervention, such as covering open channels and improving drainage infrastructure, more lives could be lost, especially when schools reopen.

Zerida Nyiraguhigwa, a resident of Rucyantege Village, also expressed concern about children’s safety, questioning how they would safely cross deep channels when schools resume.

Meanwhile, Nsabimana urged parents and residents to remain vigilant during the rainy season and to avoid crossing water channels during or immediately after rainfall.

“I advise residents that whenever it rains, stay where you are and wait for water levels to reduce. You may think that the water channel is shallow, but in actuality, you find it is deep, and when you step in, it takes you,” he said.

“Again, young children cannot have the conscience of knowing the dangers of simply stepping into running water. Parents should make sure that their children are escorted by an elder person,” Nsabimana added.