The UPDF marine forces have recovered four bodies from Lake Victoria while two are still missing after the boat they were traveling in capsized and six people drowned.
This tragic accident happened on March 12, 2024, at around 4:00 am as the 16 traders were traveling from Zinga Island in the Bussi sub-county and were heading to the Nakiwogo landing site in Entebbe sub-county to sell off their food items and produce.
ASP Anthony Amanya, the Uganda Police Marine Unit Spokesperson attributed the main cause of boat accidents in Uganda to negligence of duty from those in charge of landing sites, boat owners, and those who ferry people in boats.
He made these remarks on 13 March 2024 during an interview with journalists after a boat capsized on Lake Victoria and six people drowned. He, however, revealed that 10 people survived, four bodies recovered but two were still missing.
Amanya said that the Ministry of Transport and Works recently released rules to be followed by those in charge of landing sites and boats to reduce boat and water accidents but they are always broken.
“People do not like wearing life jackets while traveling on water no matter how many times they are warned and this is why boat accidents have increased in Uganda,’’ he said.
Amanya said that there is too much negligence of duty amongst those who are in charge of landing sites, boat owners, and transporters which has increased boat accidents.
“People in charge of the landing sites should not allow boat owners to operate late in the night and also should provide each person abode a boat with a life jacket then such incidents would be avoided because the weather on water is very unpredictable,” he said.
Amanya advised people not to board boats without being given a life jacket.
Sulaiman Ssenkubuge Musoke, the Counselor for Bussi said that the traders were residents of Zinga Island who were traveling from Balabala landing site and were taking their produce to Nakiwogo market in Entebbe when strong winds hit the boat they were traveling in at around 4:00 am and it overturned thus drowning to death.
However, Charles Mukalazi, the Chairperson of Bussi sub-county said that the cause of this accident resulted from overloading and too much wind that hit the boat, and it capsized.
Michael Musuza Galiwango, the Busi area counselor revealed that 10 survivors were taken to the Nakiwogo landing site for safety.
Police released a report indicating that 116 cases of people who had drowned in water in 2023 had been reported, however in 2024, only six people died in two boat accidents in L.Victoria.
