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MV Kalangala, a vessel that plies the Lutoboka-Nakiwogo route has suspended its daily operations for annual mandatory maintenance.

According to the works and transport ministry and the Nation Oil Distributors (NODL), which operates this vessel, the suspension of services was effected on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, as the vessel left Kalangala in the morning to dock at Port Alice in Nakiwogo.

"The vessel will be there for a full month as it undergoes this maintenance," NODL spokesperson Hakim Bwanika said.

However, during the one month, MV NODL Express will be plying the same route.

Alternative for cargo

"Though this vessel will replace MV Kalangala, we advise people with heavy cargo, vehicles, and motorcycles to use the Masaka route, and board their vehicles on MV Pearl and MV Ssese ferries to Kalangala district since MV NODL was designed for passengers only," Bwanika said.

MV NODL carries a total number of 230 passengers with their cargo.

Brian Mukweya, who has been using this vessel with his motor vehicle, said the Masaka route is too expensive yet the road from Kalangala to Bugoma is full of portholes hindering swift drives as well as developing mechanical problems.

"We have been paying shillings 50,000 per voyage but with the Masaka route, we're most likely using between sh150,000 and sh200,000 which is too expensive and its also time-consuming," Mukweya said.

MV Kalangala is the only giant vessel that voyages for long hours on Lake Victoria connecting the islands to the mainland via Entebbe.