10 drown in Lake Albert, 4 bodies retrieved

By Ismael Kasooha in Kibaale

AT least 17 people have drowned in Lake Albert with 4 bodies so far retrieved while 7 people were rescued alive.

The chairman Nguse Beach Management Unit (BMU) David Musinguzi told New Vision that two boats capsized when fishermen who had gone on night duty were blown by strong winds a few meters to the dock.

“We heard alarms as people yelled for help from the waters and we immediately used another boat to rescue them,” said Musinguzi. He said that out of the 17 they only managed to rescue 7.

The accident occurred at Nguse Landing Site in Ndaiga sub county Kibaale district at around 4AM on Friday.

Musinguzi said that the efforts to save the other people were hampered by the heavy down pour and the strong winds that raged on for hours.

“We also feared for our lives as we tried to rescue these people,” said Musinguzi.

Anatoli Nyakojo, one of the survivors told New Vision that the big boat had 17 people on board while the small one had only 3 people including himself.

“I’m even speechless because I was saved by the grace of God,” said Nyakojo.

He said that the small boat which was loaded with fish did not capsize but was also blown by the winds as it was just about to land with their catch.

Nyakoojo said that the winds blew them back into the waters and the bigger boat which had 17 people on board capsized sending all the occupants into water.

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Members of the Uganda Police Marine Unit participate in a rescue operation after a boat carrying mostly Congolese refugees capsized in Lake Albert near Ntoroko in March. File Photo 

The dead have been identified as Byaruhanga, Boniface Marirwe, Joseph Mutoro, Bosco Muhereza, Mbaziira, Kalidi Kato, Mukiza and Baguma Patrick Amooti among others.

Some of the survivors have been identified as Anatoli Nyakoojo, Yoona, Mjuuza, Asiimwe and Chance.

Musinguzi said that the search for other bodies is ongoing but he cast doubts on whether there were any more survivors left.

The district fisheries officer Francis Gwazo said that the waters of Lake Albert are turbulent and characterized by strong winds.

“We are experiencing strong winds and waves on the lake coupled with heavy rains,” said Gwazo.

Gwazo said that he was supposed to travel to Nguse on Thursday evening but cancelled the trip due to the strong waves that are on the waters.

The district criminal investigations officer for Kibaale, Ben Mugisha, said that the case has been reported and efforts have been made to communicate to the marine unit so that police could also join the search efforts.

“It is true that the boat capsized and we are searching for any survivors and the bodies,” said Mugisha.

Unlike the nasty accident this year which claimed over 110 Congolese refugees who were escaping from Kyangwali Refugee Camp, these were all Ugandans who had gone fishing.

The dead are from the sub counties of Muhorro town council and Ndaiga sub county.