Uganda: At least 30 dead after boat capsizes in Lake Victoria

At least 30 people died when a boat capsized in poor weather in Lake Victoria near the Ugandan capital, Kampala, the country’s deputy police spokesman has said.

“The boat was overloaded and secondly there was bad weather,” Patrick Onyango told media on Sunday, adding the boat was carrying 84 people. He did not say what the boat’s capacity was.

“27 people have so far been rescued. Marine teams are doing whatever they can to find more bodies,” Onyango said.

Authorities had said on Saturday at least 10 people had died in the latest deadly incident to affect passenger boats on Africa‘s largest lake. 

Police said the boat did not have a valid licence to operate and had been grounded for some time because it was in poor condition.

Cruise trip

The boat is believed to have been on a routine weekend cruise that is popular among some young Ugandans.

Police also said that fishermen trying to rescue the passengers on the boat were among the victims. 

Meanwhile, President Yoweri Museveni said on Sunday those responsible for the accident will be brought to justice.

“The operators of this boat will be charged with criminal negligence and manslaughter, if they have not already been punished for their mistake by dying in the accident,” Museveni wrote on Twitter.

Lake Victoria is the site of many boat disasters. In September, hundreds died when the MV Nyerere passenger ferry sank on the Tanzanian side of Lake Victoria.

With a surface area of 70,000 square kilometres, oval-shaped Lake Victoria is roughly the size of Ireland and is shared by Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.

It is not uncommon for ferries to capsize in the lake and the number of fatalities is often high due to a shortage of life jackets and the fact that many local people cannot swim.

In 1966, more than 800 people lost their lives on Lake Victoria when the MV Bukoba sank off the mainland town of Mwanza, according to the Red Cross.