30 bodies retrieved from Lake Victoria
Feb 13, 2008
A TOTAL of 30 bodies have been recovered from Lake Victoria following the Sunday accident in which a passenger canoe collided with a vessel at the border of Mukono and Mayuge districts.
By Moses Nampala
A TOTAL of 30 bodies have been recovered from Lake Victoria following the Sunday accident in which a passenger canoe collided with a vessel at the border of Mukono and Mayuge districts.
Hundreds of the relatives of the victims wept as they surged closer to the shore of Lwanika landing site yesterday.
A heavy stench filled the air as the decomposing bodies were being removed from the vessel to the shore.
Volunteers wrapped the bodies in black polythene bags provided by Mayuge district.
The bodies included those of a five-months-old baby and Ayoub Taire, 12, who completed Primary Seven last year.
Grieving relatives said the baby was a daughter of Monica Ndagire, who also perished in the tragedy.
Ndagire was a resident of Kayunga, whereas Taire, son of Taire Mohammed, was from Luubu Imaniro in Mayuge.
“Eight bodies were left at Malindi landing site in Mukono district after they were identified by the relatives,†said William Atubo, shortly after the vessel carrying 22 bodies, arrived at the landing site.
Atubo, who is the chairman of Imaniro sub-county, is also the leader of the local divers searching for the bodies.
He said the district authorities transported the bodies to the burial sites.
According to the chairman of the Lwanika beach management unit, Muzamiru Kajura, 47 people were aboard the canoe by the time it left Lubya landing site in Mukono district.
Sixteen passengers survived after swimming to the shore, while others were rescued by boatmen.
past BOat accidents on lakes in Uganda
June 11, 2002 - Over 70 people died after their overloaded boat capsized on Lake Victoria.
December 15, 2002 - Twenty-three people died on Lake Kyoga, when an overloaded boat from Pingire to Soroti capsized.
May 12, 2003 - Eight UPDF soldiers from Ituri drowned in Lake Albert.
June 6, 2003 - Eleven people drowned in Lake Victoria.
July 31, 2003 - Twenty children drowned in River Nile at Ruuga landing site.
February 3, 2004 - Forty-five people died on Lake Albert.
March 25, 2004 - Five family members were among nine people who drowned in Lake Victoria, at Kome Island in Mukono.
October 14 2004 - Thirteen people drowned in Kalangala islands.
October 6, 2004 - Six people drowned in River Nile when their boat capsized.
September 28, 2004 - A renowned diver and entertainer at Bujagali Falls, Emmanuel Kaujju, drowned during his routine escapades.
December 15, 2004 - Eighteen bodies were recovered from Lake Victoria, after a storm hit their boat at Korokoto.
September 14, 2006 - Seven poachers drowned on Albert Nile.
June 30, 2007 - Twenty people died after their boat capsized in Lake Victoria.
December 31, 2007 - Three people were feared dead after their canoe sank in Lake Victoria.
A TOTAL of 30 bodies have been recovered from Lake Victoria following the Sunday accident in which a passenger canoe collided with a vessel at the border of Mukono and Mayuge districts.
Hundreds of the relatives of the victims wept as they surged closer to the shore of Lwanika landing site yesterday.
A heavy stench filled the air as the decomposing bodies were being removed from the vessel to the shore.
Volunteers wrapped the bodies in black polythene bags provided by Mayuge district.
The bodies included those of a five-months-old baby and Ayoub Taire, 12, who completed Primary Seven last year.
Grieving relatives said the baby was a daughter of Monica Ndagire, who also perished in the tragedy.
Ndagire was a resident of Kayunga, whereas Taire, son of Taire Mohammed, was from Luubu Imaniro in Mayuge.
“Eight bodies were left at Malindi landing site in Mukono district after they were identified by the relatives,†said William Atubo, shortly after the vessel carrying 22 bodies, arrived at the landing site.
Atubo, who is the chairman of Imaniro sub-county, is also the leader of the local divers searching for the bodies.
He said the district authorities transported the bodies to the burial sites.
According to the chairman of the Lwanika beach management unit, Muzamiru Kajura, 47 people were aboard the canoe by the time it left Lubya landing site in Mukono district.
Sixteen passengers survived after swimming to the shore, while others were rescued by boatmen.
past BOat accidents on lakes in Uganda