Twenty people are feared dead after a boat capsized on Lake Victoria off the shores of Buikwe district this morning.
The bodies of four of the victims have been recovered. They are two men – Lomokori Nakori, Logwi Mara and a nine-year-old child, Akia Mara. The fourth body has not been identified.
The boat capsized at about 5 a.m., 800 meters off shore. It was loaded with 20 people and merchandise, heading from Lukoma to Bugungu landing site on Bugungu island.
Maria Goretti Nakase, a witness to the accident, says the boat was clearly overloaded. She says it could not combat the heavy winds on the lake this morning.
The passenger boat was a popular means of transport between Kikondo, Busana, Bugungu and Lukoma landing sites in Buikwe.
Samson Lubega, the Southeastern police spokesperson, says no further details of the accident are available at this time.
Boat accidents on Uganda's lakes are a major concern for people living and trading on the islands.
In July last year, 26 people were killed off the shores of Bugiri district when their boat capsized about 24 nautical miles from Sigulu island. A month later, 30 people traveling from Kalangala to Kasenyi perished in similar conditions.
Last year also saw the death of 33 people when their boat capsized on Lake Albert.
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