Shs23 billion surveillance boat sinks in Lake Victoria

Marine officials deny the incident but police say they are working hard to have the machine back.

An Elettra interceptor surveillance boat that was purchased to step up security surveillance ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2007 has sunk in Lake Victoria.

The machine bought at Shs23.2 billion and has been based at police marine base in Kigo, Wakiso District, sank on Wednesday after it developed a hole beneath.

The boat was part of the four surveillance boats acquired through a loan and have been grounded for the last 13 months.

“They are normally anchored here at the base because they are not functioning. We were surprised when we saw one of them sinking after water penetrated its beneath,” a source in the police force disclosed.

The source said they normally use small boats during operations because all the big surveillance boats acquired during Chogm are not functioning.
However, marine officials denied the boat had gone under and stopped journalists from accessing the area.

“There is no such allegation and I haven’t heard of that since morning,” Mr Robert Tumwesigye, the Marine Police deputy commandant, said before ordering journalists out of the base in Entebbe.
The Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesman, Mr Ibin Ssenkumbi, however, said the boat had sank but were working round the clock to have it retrieved.
“I have called the people at the marine base and confirmed the boat was sinking in. They, however, say, it’s something minor because will pull it out, work on it and have it function again,” he said.

mssebuyira@ug.nationmedia.com