5 people, 4 cows drown as boat capsizes in Lake Victoria

The marine police officers in Buvuma in collaboration with members of the fishing community are searching for bodies of 5 people who drowned at Kirongo-Kiyindi on Lake Victoria after the boat they were travelling in capsized.

According to SP Butoto Hellen PRO Ssezibwa Region, they received a report from Mr. Mukisa Elisa, a 16-year-old P.6 pupil at Kirongo Primary School and a resident of Kirongo Village, Kirongo Parish, Busamuzi Subcounty, Buvuma District about the incident which happened on 15th February 2024, at 20:00 hours.

Upon arrival at Kirongo landing site, Mr. Kabenge loaded five cows, one sack of silver fish (Mukene), one motorcycle (with an unidentified number plate), and four individuals: Mr. Karismart (a butcher from Kirongo trading center), Ms. Nalongo (a businesswoman from Kasali B and owner of the loaded silver fish), Mr. Tom (a fish maw dealer and owner of the motorcycle), and an unidentified woman from Kifulu-Nairambi, Buvuma District.

Despite warnings of overloading, it is reported that Mr. Kabenge purportedly dismissed concerns, asserting his expertise in boat operation. Later, upon departure and while navigating the lake, distress calls were heard from the occupants, signalling danger.

The rescue efforts led by Mr. Ddungu and his team from Kirongo landing site, using another boat, only retrieved the capsized boat along with the carcasses of four cows.

Unfortunately, Mr. Kabenge, Mr. Karismart, Ms. Nalongo, Mr. Tom, and an unidentified woman from Kifulu remain missing.

The overloaded nature of the boat has been noted as a cause of this tragic incident. Efforts are underway by marine officers from Kiyindi to recover the bodies and any other items lost during the accident.

Butoto says investigations into this matter are ongoing, and every effort is being made to ascertain the full extent of the circumstances surrounding this distressing event.