At least 20 people are feared dead after a boat capsized on Lake Victoria on Wednesday morning.
The police marine unit already started rescue efforts in order to retrieve people alive or dead. So far a total of five have been confirmed dead after the canoe accident.
The incident occurred as the canoe was en route to Katabi town council in Wakiso district from Lwanabatya and Ntuuwa landing sites in Kalangala district. It is alleged that 30 passengers and cargo were on board the boat when it capsized.
Eyewitnesses allege that the canoe was hit by strong waves near Jaana Island, in Mukono district, deep in the night.
This prompted them to change route towards Nsazi Island.
The Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, says that they are awaiting updates from the rescue team before providing an official statement on the accident. He added that the police marine unit is working with other agencies to search for the missing victims.
This is just the latest in a series of boat accidents on Lake Victoria. In recent years, there have been several high-profile accidents, including one in 2018 that killed more than 30 people. These accidents are often caused by overloading, bad weather, and the use of unsafe boats.
The government has taken some steps to try to prevent these accidents, such as increasing the number of marine police officers and conducting safety inspections of boats. However, more needs to be done to educate boat operators and passengers about safety measures.
The death toll from accidents on Ugandan water bodies is often high due to many users ignoring safety measures. In 2021, there were over 1,000 people who died in water accidents in Uganda. This is a tragedy that could be avoided if people took the necessary precautions.