Passengers in panic after ship breaks down on L. Victoria

Henry Muddu, one of the passengers on board told our agencies on phone that they had been told by captain of the vessel that its engine had suddenly stopped.

Kalangala

Over 50 passengers travelling on the MV Kalangala ship on Lake Victoria have for the past three hours been trapped on Lake Victoria after the vessel broke down.

The passengers and members of the vessel crew were travelling to Nakiwogo landing site on Lake Victoria in Entebbe when the ship broke down after taking off from Lutoboka landing site on Kalangala Island.

Mr Isaac Mugera, the Kalangala information officer says the vessel was carrying over 50 passengers and six light vehicles to Entebbe.

Mr Mugera says the ship set off at 8:30am but after 20 minutes, he received a call from one of the passengers informing him that they are stranded.

Mr Mugera says the ship occupants are panic stricken because there is no alternative vessel that can pick them and take them to Entebbe.

Henry Muddu, one of the passengers on board told our agencies on phone that they had been told by captain of the vessel that its engine had suddenly stopped.

Muddu says the ship has failed to start despite the fact that they have tried to refuel the ship.

James Mulowooza of Mulowooza and Brothers limited who manages the ship says that they are organizing speed boats to return the passengers to Lutoboka landing site.

He says he has also dispatched experts to examine the extent of the damage on the ship.

MV Kalangala usually carries over 150 passengers with light vehicles. It plies only two routes from Kalangala starting 8:30am to Nakiwogo in Entebbe where it docks at 11am. At around 2pm it leaves Entebbe for Kalangala where it reaches at 5pm.

Last week, a Kalangala Luku ferry which connects Kachanga landing site in Masaka to Bugoma landing site in Mugoye sub county broke down, paralyzing business there.

The ferry, which is the only means of public transport on L. Victoria, has not yet resumed operations. The ferry Master George Ssenkayi says that they are still searching for spare parts to fix the ramp.