MV Templar wreckage should be jealously preserved

Jun 06, 2019

It is a challenging window into the study and presentation of our past

 By Augustine Otuko

Whereas the National flags flew at half mast on Friday 30th November 2018 as Uganda joined the families of the fallen citizens in Lake Victoria accident, We thank the great patriots; the volunteer Lifesaving fishermen, Uganda Police Force, UPDF, the Ministry of Works staff and the ordinary citizens at Lake Victoria shores for the great contribution they made towards humanity. May the souls of the deceased rest in eternal peace.

As the Patriotic Ugandan men and women combed the waters searching for more lives to save or extra bodies to recover in the mysterious incident, many questions remain unanswered. Meanwhile, the Media, Government, the public and the families have continued to build scenarios on the possibilities of what could have happened in this gruesome sail accident. We hope the questions lingering in many people's minds will be answered by the factor of time and authoritarian responsibility. All these and more will be helpful building for the future.

MV Templar brings an opportunity for reflection on safety, Vessel management and regulation in the waters. We should not make a mistake to let this incident just pass by.

MV Templar wreck is a challenging window into the study and presentation of our past. Whether for research or investigation these submerged resources are valuable classrooms within which a vast array of knowledge, beauty and heritage resides. The story of MV Templar is woven into the intricate tapestry of the great lakes regional history. On a much grander scale, preservation and research of this sunken vessel provides information on the history of ships and ship management in Uganda and the great lakes.

Items recovered such as Phones, Wallets, National Ids, Hand Bags, Wigs, Wines, Wine bottles, beers, sodas, plates, empty bottles, names of the fallen citizens, the survivors and those not yet found should be preserved and kept in National Museum for posterity to create future learning, research and tourism. In fact, a place should be gazetted, sealed off and Protected within Lake Victoria where all the wreckages including MV Templar should be stationed and the incidents' history properly documented.

Countries in Asia like China, Singapore, South and North Korea, Japan preserve their history as a National culture and Tourism Plan. While in a country like China, the historical incidents are properly documented and generation after generation stories are told as if they happened yesterday. Asian governments deliberately invest colossal amounts of funds to maintain historical sites. Sites like the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square in Beijing China are perfect examples. Preserved Marine wreckage sites in Asia include; MV Demas Victory in Qatar 2009, MV Glen Sannox in Saudi Arabia 2004, HMIS Jamnagar in Bangladesh 1948, SMS Cormoran in China 1914 etc.

Ship wreckage preservation is significant as a viable component in marine ecology. Water archaeologists should investigate and study the history left on the Lake Victoria floor. By studying this vessel, researchers will gain a better sense of the physical and economic implication in and around the water bodies. Archaeologists also should seek insight into understanding the people that were sailing and their economic capabilities. Who were they and what did they stand for?

In conclusion, therefore, Shipwreck exploration ensures the same opportunities for future divers. Researchers require an understanding of the complex environment surrounding shipwrecks and a commitment to shipwreck site preservation.

Protecting these resources will allow the continued interpretation and understanding of the lives of mariners and the struggles and successes encountered while navigating the dangerous waters.

The writer is the NRM youth chairman for Katakwi district

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