At least five individuals have been confirmed dead following a Monday boat accident on lake Victoria in Buvuma district.
The boat said to be overloaded experienced a tragedy last night at around 7pm after breaking down into two pieces and capsized in the Lake.
Reports indicate that the accident happened in the middle waters of the lake when the ill-fated boat transporting several passengers to its capacity was docking to Zinga Island Landing site from Zigunga Island Landing site.
Sezibwa region police spokesperson, Hellen Butoto said Marine police together with locals are searching for bodies of five individuals who allegedly drowned and lost lives after the stunning incident.
Butoto confirmed that five bodies are missing while fourteen lives were successfully rescued in the night.
“So far, 5 people are dead, as we successfully rescued fourteen. It is Unfortunate that an unconfirmed number of individuals remain missing,” stated Butoto.
She identified deceased persons as Sisa Nantaba, 7, Monday Bukenya, 50, Lydia Nanjita, 16, Night Ssabano of nine years and the 10-year-old Angel Namuwaya.
She explains that the fourteen survivors were aided by colleagues with swimming capabilities who also rescued themselves and attributes the tragic incident to overloading.
“The cause of the accident is over carrying passengers on the boat beyond its capacity,” added Butoto.
It is important to note that On December 25 2023, two minors lost their lives after drowning in lake Victoria at Masese Pier located at Masese landing site in Jinja city.
Another tragedy transpired on December 10, 2023 as three people drowned in the same Lake in Buvuma district which police pledged to conduct maximum patrols to combat water accidents.
