The police marine unit is currently searching for survivors after canoe carrying at least 30 people capsized on Lake Victoria on Wednesday morning.
The accident occurred as the canoe was en route to Katabi Town Council, Wakiso district, from Lwanabatya and Ntuuwa landing sites in Kalangala district.
Eyewitnesses report that the canoe was carrying over 30 passengers and cargo when it capsized.
According to sources, the canoe came under strong waves shortly after passing Jaana Island, towards Nsazi Island in Mukono district, deep in the night.
“They raised a distress call and changed route. They were heading to Kasenyi but instead turned to Nsazi. As they approached the island, the canoe capsized, and twenty died instantly and 10 people survived,” said a senior reporter in Entebbe.
The Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, said that they are awaiting updates from the rescue team before providing an official statement on the accident.
It is worth noting that the death toll from accidents on Ugandan water bodies is often high due to many users ignoring safety measures.
Despite her numerous lakes and rivers, Uganda’s water transport network remains one of the most forgotten sectors in the country. Most boats on Ugandan lakes are obsolete, unlicensed or uninsured and the landing sites are in deplorable state.
This unregulated water transport has resulted in many fatal boat accidents due to unchecked overloading, sailing on undesignated routes and use of defective boats and canoes. Water transport is usually risky during the period between January to March and July to August as a result of strong winds and turbulent waves on the lake. But due to rising water levels on Lake Victoria, Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert ,strong winds these days strike regularly, especially at night.
A recent survey done by Makerere University School of Public Health indicate that 2,066 drowning cases were recorded in 14 sampled districts between January 1, 2016 to June 30,2018. Majority of the drowning cases accounting for 1,332 were fatal, representing 64 percent.