HOIMA – At least thirty people have been confirmed dead after a boat carrying football players and fans capsized in Lake Albert on weekend.
According to Police some of the deceased have been identified as only Bob, Fisto, Jango, Ayera, Majid Mayaya, Omirambe, Bondhe and Opakrwoth.
Others are Dhebaba, Nyayenga, Winnie, Kothu and Anifa.
Some of the survivors are Emmanuel Ageno 20, Jalum Oakani 22, Sara Maurine 24, Rose Chikawun 18, Kenneth Twesige 20, Madithrwoth Thie 18 and Godfrey Alimula 22.
Others are Zawadi Rundi 20, Warom Oyirwoth 27, Mubaraka 19, Damas Oyirwoth 18, Oyergiu 16, Oringi and Asumani among others.
Police says that all the deceased and the survivors are residents of Fofo landing site in Tonyoa parish, Buseruka sub-county in Hoima district.
Baker Ogen, the Fofo landing site LC1 chairperson told URN that the players and the football fans were heading to Runga landing site in Kibiro parish Kigorobya sub-county Hoima district for a football match.
He says strong winds hit the overloaded boat a few meters from Fofo landing site after setting off. He says so far, two bodies have been retrieved. He attributes the accident to over loading. Ogen says the players were using a fishing boat at the time of the accident yet they were supposed to have used a transport boat.
Bruno Sunday a marine officer attached to Mbegu UPDF Marine detach who led a team of marine operatives to search and rescue the survivors also told journalists that given the current bad weather condition on the lake, the search for the bodies will resume on Monday morning.
In December 2016, at least 30 Ugandan members of a village football team and their fans drowned in the Lake Albert in Bullisa district. They were from Kaweibanda landing site heading for a friendly football match at Runga landing site.
Still on the same lake, in 2014, at least 98 bodies were recovered and 41 rescued after a boat carrying as many as 250 Congolese refugees capsized. The refugees had been living in Uganda’s Kyangwali settlement and were heading back home on their own accord.
