Deadly traps in Lake Albert
Oct 18, 2007
DEFENSIVE spikes that were erected by the British colonialists in Lake Albert to prevent any possible Belgian invasion have become a menace to vessels.
By Mary Karugaba
DEFENSIVE spikes that were erected by the British colonialists in Lake Albert to prevent any possible Belgian invasion have become a menace to vessels.
Uganda was under British rule from 1900 to 1962, while the Democratic Republic of Congo was under the Belgians.
Sources said divers established the presence of the deadly spikes. The divers were commissioned by the Government to establish why there were so many accidents on the lake.
The source added that the divers also located three huge colonial boats on the lakebed. “The Government is trying to retrieve them,†the source said.
The Government is negotiating with a company to remove the spikes that are said to cover a wide area.
“It is recommended that these dangerous metallic objects be removed to save the lives of people and vessels using Lake Albert waters, since their initial use is no longer viable,†read a letter from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works.
The letter was copied to the Ministry of Defence, the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies. It explains that the spikes were meant to damage vessels attempting to enter Uganda through the lake.
“Since then, the objects have become a danger to water vessels which try to cross points where they are located. Several accidents have happened on this lake as a result of the vessels being damaged by these spikes,†the letter stated.
The discovery of oil and the recent border conflict on Lake Albert has generated a lot of interest in the lake. Oil companies had earlier complained of some obstacles on the lake.
Since 1997, over 20 accidents have been recorded on the lake, killing over 1,000 people. The Police used to blame overloading and bad weather for the accidents. Most of the dead were from the surrounding districts of Masindi, Hoima, Nebbi and Bundibugyo.
“Most people at first attributed the rampant accidents to juju (witchcraft),†a source said.
Accidents 1997-2004
DEFENSIVE spikes that were erected by the British colonialists in Lake Albert to prevent any possible Belgian invasion have become a menace to vessels.
Uganda was under British rule from 1900 to 1962, while the Democratic Republic of Congo was under the Belgians.
Sources said divers established the presence of the deadly spikes. The divers were commissioned by the Government to establish why there were so many accidents on the lake.
The source added that the divers also located three huge colonial boats on the lakebed. “The Government is trying to retrieve them,†the source said.
The Government is negotiating with a company to remove the spikes that are said to cover a wide area.
“It is recommended that these dangerous metallic objects be removed to save the lives of people and vessels using Lake Albert waters, since their initial use is no longer viable,†read a letter from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works.
The letter was copied to the Ministry of Defence, the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies. It explains that the spikes were meant to damage vessels attempting to enter Uganda through the lake.
“Since then, the objects have become a danger to water vessels which try to cross points where they are located. Several accidents have happened on this lake as a result of the vessels being damaged by these spikes,†the letter stated.
The discovery of oil and the recent border conflict on Lake Albert has generated a lot of interest in the lake. Oil companies had earlier complained of some obstacles on the lake.
Since 1997, over 20 accidents have been recorded on the lake, killing over 1,000 people. The Police used to blame overloading and bad weather for the accidents. Most of the dead were from the surrounding districts of Masindi, Hoima, Nebbi and Bundibugyo.
“Most people at first attributed the rampant accidents to juju (witchcraft),†a source said.
Accidents 1997-2004
- In December 2004, 22 people werte killed after their boat capsized at Korokoto between Mahangi and Panyimur.
- In February 2004, 45 people died after their boat capsized on their way from Bugoigo in Buliisa district to Panyimur in Nebbi district.
- In July 2003, 20 drowned in a boat mishap at Ruunga landing site. They were travelling from Panyimur to Bugoma in Hoima. Goods worth million of shillings were lost.
- In May 2003, eight UPDF officers returning from Ituri in Congo perished when their boat crashed between Tchomia and Ntoroko landing sites in Congo.
- In September 2000, 41 people died when their boat sunk near Kayonga with over 100 bags of fish. The boat was travelling from Kijjanji in Hoima to Panyimur in Nebbi.
- In January 1999, 40 drowned on their way to Kyangwali in Hoima from Panyimur
- In May 1998, 10 people drowned near Kanara, Ntoroko on their way to Kibale. In the same month, 20 others died on their way to Masindi
- In 1997, 65 people died after their boat capsized on the way to Dei market in Nebbi from Butiaba in Masindi