By Insight Post Uganda
Police in the Buvuma district have so far recovered five bodies of people who drowned in Lake Victoria waters on January 1, 2024.
The ill-fated boat, reportedly overloaded with unspecified number of people broke into two pieces while attempting to dock at Zinga Island in Bugaya Sub County in Buvuma at around 7 PM.
The boat was traveling from Zigunga island also in Bugaya sub-county.
Jodoro Sserwanja, the LC3 Chairperson of Bugaya says most of the people on the boat were returning from the passover night organized at one of the shrines at Zigunga.
The deceased individuals have been identified as Monday Bukenya 50, Sisa Nantaba Sisa 7, Lydia Nanjita 16, Night Ssabano 9, and Angel Namuwaya 10.
So far other fourteen people have been successfully rescued. These include Annet Bandibasa 35, Florence Nakintu 35, Samali Nassali 3, Oivia Nalunga 6, Joseph Bukenya 50, Joseph Omodingi 15, and Shinsia Kaguna 9.
Others are David Mukasa 54, Kutusa Namatovu 40, Juma Kakungulu 13, Nishima Saluwa 9, Precious Naziwa 6, Yisa Yoweri 2, and Dan Sseluyembe aged six months.
The SSezibwa Regional Police Spokesperson, Hellen Butoto says the unconfirmed number of individuals remain missing.
According to her, accounts from eyewitnesses suggest that the boat was carrying an undisclosed number of passengers but efforts are underway to establish the exact number of individuals who were traveling on the boat.
“Fourteen survivors were helped by their colleagues with swimming abilities, they were able to rescue themselves. These survivors were transported to Bugaya Hospital, where they are currently receiving medical attention.” Butoto says.
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