Kalangala ferry excites residents
THE much-awaited sh13b MV Kalangala ferry on Friday made its maiden test run on Lake Victoria, docking at Bugala Island, kalangala district archipelago, to cheers from hundreds of ecstatic residents.
By Steven Candia
THE much-awaited sh13b MV Kalangala ferry on Friday made its maiden test run on Lake Victoria, docking at Bugala Island, kalangala district archipelago, to cheers from hundreds of ecstatic residents.
The mooring ropes of the eagerly-awaited vessel were cast ashore at 1:53pm on the Lutoboka pier on Bugala Island, the district headquarters of 84 islands, triggering spontaneous joy. They cheered, sang and danced.
In docking at the pier still under construction, the vessel also brought to an end an agonising wait by residents, who had gathered for hours.
The ultra-modern vessel, constructed by Damen Shipyards of Holland, berthed at the pier after a six-hour journey from Port Bell, captained by Nsolezi Feruzi of Kamanga Ferry Ltd, Tanzania and his eight man crew with 25 passengers on board. Among them was works ministry commissioner for transport planning Godfrey Wandera.
The 80-tonne, 37.3m long and 7.5m-wide vessel, with a seating capacity of 108 passengers, departed from Port Bell at 7:40am on a 65 nautical miles voyage. It easily cruised by Bubeke, Bukassa and Bufumira islands on its way to Lutoboka.
Wandera said the vessel would operate between Nakiwogo near Entebbe and Lutoboka.
Singing pro-NRM songs while waving president Yoweri Museveni’s posters, the residents waited for the arrival of their ship. They vowed to vote for Museveni.
THE much-awaited sh13b MV Kalangala ferry on Friday made its maiden test run on Lake Victoria, docking at Bugala Island, kalangala district archipelago, to cheers from hundreds of ecstatic residents.
The mooring ropes of the eagerly-awaited vessel were cast ashore at 1:53pm on the Lutoboka pier on Bugala Island, the district headquarters of 84 islands, triggering spontaneous joy. They cheered, sang and danced.
In docking at the pier still under construction, the vessel also brought to an end an agonising wait by residents, who had gathered for hours.
The ultra-modern vessel, constructed by Damen Shipyards of Holland, berthed at the pier after a six-hour journey from Port Bell, captained by Nsolezi Feruzi of Kamanga Ferry Ltd, Tanzania and his eight man crew with 25 passengers on board. Among them was works ministry commissioner for transport planning Godfrey Wandera.
The 80-tonne, 37.3m long and 7.5m-wide vessel, with a seating capacity of 108 passengers, departed from Port Bell at 7:40am on a 65 nautical miles voyage. It easily cruised by Bubeke, Bukassa and Bufumira islands on its way to Lutoboka.
Wandera said the vessel would operate between Nakiwogo near Entebbe and Lutoboka.
Singing pro-NRM songs while waving president Yoweri Museveni’s posters, the residents waited for the arrival of their ship. They vowed to vote for Museveni.