The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
➡ Biggest Lake on African continent, 70,000 square km
➡ Every year, 3,000 & 5,000 fishermen die
➡ Sept 20, 2018 – MV Nyerere sinks, 200+ die
➡ May 21, 1996 – MV Bukoba sinks, 800 drown
➡ November 24, 2018 – Over 30 drown close to Mutima beach
Mutima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT & AFP | Thirty-one bodies have been recovered after a pleasure boat sank on Lake Victoria, but the search for the missing enters the third day Monday with fears that up to 60 are still missing.
The vessel carrying close to a hundred revellers sank during bad weather on Saturday in the latest deadly incident to affect passenger boats on Africa’s largest lake.
The boat MV Templar, on which party-goers were drinking, dancing and listening to music, sank a short distance from the shore off Mutima in Mukono District, close to the capital Kampala. They were from KK Beach, heading to Mutola Beach.
Thirteen bodies were recovered on day one on Saturday, and 18 yesterday as Police and UPDF marine units, helped by local fishermen and a helicopter, searched the lake for the missing. Only 27 were rescued on Saturday.
Prince Daudi Kintu Wasajja , musician Irene Nambiru and businessman Freeman Kiyimba were among the survivors rescued.
Police said overloading and bad weather were to blame. The Mutima Country Haven resort had been converted to a triage centre and morgue on Sunday morning where police were collecting the swollen bodies of victims
“We expect (the number of passengers) is beyond the capacity of the boat. It was overloaded and unfortunately people were drunk,” said Asuman Mugenyi, director of operations for the Uganda police on Sunday.
“We suspect the mechanical condition of the boat and the weather contributed to the sinking. “According to one of the survivors there were more than 90 people on board.”
Day three of Mutiima Beach Operations : Police and UPDF Marine Units on a mission of pulling the boat wreckage out of the Lake so as to establish if there are more bodies still trapped under. pic.twitter.com/yzbdbv7OBn
— Uganda Police Force (@PoliceUg) November 26, 2018
Museveni statement
President Yoweri Museveni has said government has ordered electronic tracking of all boats on Lake Victoria for safety and security reasons.
Earlier Sunday, the First Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Moses Ali visited the bereaved at the city’s mortuary.
Quiet, somber mood at Mutiima beach as relatives and friends wait for news of their loved ones. There are occasional screams and cries when a body is pulled from the water. #Uganda #LakeVictoriaBoatAccident pic.twitter.com/WshWHKavpV
— Catherine Byaruhanga (@cathkemi) November 25, 2018
An official organises possessions washed up at Mutima recovery site on the banks of #LakeVictoria following yesterday’s disaster.
A survivor told police more than 90 people were aboard the vessel.
Police say only 26 people were rescued.
24 bodies hve so far been recovered#Uganda pic.twitter.com/uyjAUq4Hol— Michael O’Hagan (@micoh) November 25, 2018
I would like to thank all of you who have reached out to me. By GOD’S GRACE I am still Alive ,safe and getting medical attention but so traumatised. My deepest thoughts to our comrades who didn’t make it and condolences to the bereaved families. What can I say? GOD #NSIIMYE ? pic.twitter.com/hH4qbvVYlK
— Iryn Namubiru (@irynnamubiru) November 25, 2018
Deep condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the tragic #LakeVictoriaBoatAccident. Such a terrible and sad loss. Investigations into this disaster have commenced. May the Almighty God comfort you & rest the souls of the departed in eternal peace pic.twitter.com/iYQojzYkut
— Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda (@RuhakanaR) November 25, 2018
Over 60 feared dead in Lake Victoria disaster #LakeVictoriaBoatAccident #Uganda https://t.co/vGiwVnzzre pic.twitter.com/dbMJ5zSTy2
— The Independent (@UGIndependent) November 25, 2018
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