Boat Capsize: Four Confirmed Dead As Marine Police Hunt For Missing People on L. Victoria

Four people have been confirmed dead, while two others remain missing after a boat capsized on Tuesday at Kakyanga, near Zinga Island on Lake Victoria.

The deceased, who have been recovered, include Nalongo Naluswa, a resident of Bussu Subcounty, Grace, 22 years old, from Kapa Kalebi Balabala parish, Bussi Sub-county, Wakiso District, and her two-year-old son, Lucky and another yet to be identified.

By press time , the missing included Nsubuga Emmanuel, 35, the boat driver from Kasanje, Mundenkye Francis, 50, from Bushenyi, and Mama Clare, a local from Kisoro.

The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday, March 12, 2023, at 1:00 when an engine boat, reportedly belonging to Steven Muragye but driven by Nsubuga, departed from Balabala landing site en route to Nakiwogo.

According to ASP Amanya Anthony, spokesperson Uganda Police Marine Unit, the boat was heavily loaded with about 200 bunches of matooke, 07 sacks of cassava, and bags, along with 17 passengers consisting of 16 adults and one child. As the boat reached the area of Kakyanga, it encountered severe winds and waves, leading to its capsizing.

Amanya confirmed that four bodies have been retrieved and identified; however, their family members declined the option of a postmortem examination.

He reveals that efforts to locate the missing individuals are ongoing, with Police Marine teams conducting search operations on Lake Victoria. A team of police officers from Entebbe has documented the scene.

Miraculously, eleven people survived the accident, including Asimwe Felix, Akatukwasa Leticia, Namata Justin, Isingoma John, Twinamatsiko Pius, Tumusiime Robert, Maniriho Selestine, Tumuhimbise Simeon, Tinkansimire Joel, Aisha Namuyomba, and Galiwango Frank.