Two dead after boat capsizes in Lake Bisina

Two people drowned after a boat they were travelling in on Lake Bisina capsized. 

Police and local authorities identified the deceased as Michael Odelo and his niece Esther Nabirye alias Itabu, 18, all residents of Kelim 1 Village in Kapujan sub county, Katakwi District. 

John Robert Oluka, the Kapujan sub county LC3 vice chairperson, explained that the duo together with three other people who were rescued were returning from Kokorio parish where they had gone to collect firewood. 

Brian Namanya, the Police officer in-charge of Kapujan Police Station, said that the incident that happened on Saturday at around midday, was caused by heavy wind.

According to Namanya, the Police together with locals were still searching for their bodies by 2pm on Sunday. 

Agnes Akiror, 27, a survivor who revealed she does not know how to swim, said the boat was filled with water and Betty Abeja another survivor tried scooping the water out. 

Max Okiror Katumba the Kelim 1 village LC1 chairperson said people have been sailing to Kokorio thickets to collect firewood because their village has no trees. 

Okiror said Lake Bisina claims lives of many people annually especially fishermen, although the number of deaths has reduced due to the introduction of a ferry.