Nyanza: Man found dead in hotel swimming pool, managers detained

By The Inspirer.

Police in Nyanza District have launched an investigation into the death of a man whose body was discovered floating in a swimming pool at Urubuto Hotel on Thursday evening, January 15, 2026.

The deceased, believed to be between 40 and 45 years old, was found in the hotel’s pool located in Gakenkeri A Village, Busasamana Sector. Residents alerted security agencies after spotting the body.

Southern Province Police spokesperson, CIP Hassan Kamanzi, confirmed that officers from the Rwanda National Police and the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) responded immediately.

“It is true that we received information about a person seen floating in the swimming pool of Urubuto Hotel. Upon arrival, police found a man aged between 40 and 45 who is suspected to have drowned. The body was removed and taken to Nyanza Hospital for medical examination as investigations continue,” CIP Kamanzi said.

Police suspect the man had accessed the hotel as a client, though his identity and the exact cause of death have not yet been established.

In connection with the incident, managers of Urubuto Hotel have been detained to assist with investigations, particularly over alleged negligence after the man reportedly accessed the swimming pool without supervision.

CIP Kamanzi warned hotel and leisure facility operators against lax safety measures, emphasizing that failure to provide trained personnel to supervise clients can lead to fatal accidents.

“Facilities offering swimming and other leisure activities must ensure there are qualified staff to supervise users at all times. Negligence that endangers lives will not be tolerated,” he said.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that the deceased may have been a security guard at the same hotel and that he went swimming after finishing his shift, despite allegedly not knowing how to swim.

The hotel’s swimming pool has been temporarily closed as police and RIB continue investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death.