Police have confirmed that at least 25 people have died following a tragic boat accident on the country’s largest body, Lake Victoria.
According to the latest reports only nine passengers were rescued alive from what should have been a routine and quick trip across. Marine rescuers who include the UPDF said five bodies had been recovered by last evening.
Fishermen from neighboring shores said the ill-fated large boat (locally known as Kinaala) was transporting 34 passengers and cargo from Lwanabatya Landing Site in Kyamuswa County, Kalangala District. Also aboard was a large cargo including several bags of charcoal, fresh foods and silverfish.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, SSP Patrick Onyango said on Thursday that the tragic incident resulted from overloading and terrible weather conditions.
The craft is reported to have run into a strong windstorm off Jana Islet as it headed for Kasenyi Landing Site near Entebbe in Wakiso District. 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.
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.
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.