MV Kalangala to resume operation soon

KAMPALA - Works on Nakiwogo landing site in Entebbe and Lutoboka in Kalangala district where Marine Vessel (MV) Kalangala operates, are in final stages of completion.

The Ministry of Works and Transport, in collaboration with the Nation Oil Distributors Ltd (NODL), the contracted company to operate the ship are raising the landing sites that were submerged in the raised water levels of Lake Victoria.

MV Kalangala stopped operation a couple of months back due to the submerged landing sites. The ferry faced hardship docking and passengers disembarking from the vessel.

Gen Katumba Wamala, the works and transport minister said the raised water levels have severely impacted the operation of ferries.

"Some ferries had stopped operations because of the submerged landing site facilities which left travelling members of the public stranded," the transport minister said. 

However, the minister said, mitigative measures are being put in place to raise all submerged landing sites.

James Magembe, a businessman in Kalangala said the absence of MV Kalangala on the route is a blow to the tourism industry and general business.

He said although two ferries connect Kalangala district from Masaka, MV Kalangala is instrumental for people using the Kampala-Entebbe route.

The vessel will resume operation soon after works on the landing sites are complete, according to sources in the ministry

The vessel recently returned from Mwanza port in Tanzania after the annual mandatory inspection repairs for conformity to seaworthiness.

MV. Kalangala is a government-owned vessel under the ministry of works and transport. It was offered to people of Kalangala for eased and safe water transport linking Kalangala to the mainland.

It was assembled in 2005 and initially operated by Mulowooza & Brothers. After the contract expired, the ministry operated it for some time until it was contracted to National Oil Distributors.