KAMPALA: As many as twenty people lost their lives after a tragic boat capsized off Lake Victoria in Uganda on Wednesday morning. Rescue teams and local residents searched for survivors after the incident.
According to the Uganda police force, the boat capsized around 5:00 am (0200 GMT) while carrying charcoal, fresh food, and fish. As of now, twenty deaths have been confirmed, and nine people have been rescued. It is believed that there were around 34 people onboard the boat when the accident occurred.
The authorities attributed the cause of the unfortunate tragedy to overloading and adverse weather conditions. The public has been urged to wear life jackets while traveling on water and avoid overloading vessels.
Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake, has witnessed numerous boat disasters, often linked to overcrowding and inclement weather. Tragically, boat accidents have led to a substantial loss of life due to a lack of life jackets and limited swimming skills among passengers.
Major Boat Drowning Incidents in Uganda
In November 2018, a tragic incident occurred on Lake Victoria when a pleasure boat sank during bad weather conditions, leading to the loss of thirty-two people. The Uganda police reported that the vessel was carrying over 90 revelers at the time of the accident.
In another devastating event in September of that year, hundreds of people died when the MV Nyerere passenger ferry sank on Lake Victoria’s Tanzanian side.
In December 2020, a boat sinking claimed the lives of at least 26 individuals, with adverse weather conditions being blamed for the accident.
