Six drown in Lake Victoria
Passengers being carried off a boat at Ssenyi Landing Site on Lake victoria in Buikwe District recently. Most people who travel on the lake do not wear life jackets. PHOTO BY DENIS EDEMA.
KAMULI/MAYUGE- Six people have drowned in two separate accidents on Lake victoria.
The first accident occurred at Nabukidi Island, Magogo Sub-county in Kamuli District when three residents drowned after their boat capsized during a storm.
The bodies of Simon Luwaya, a one Christopher and Ivan Yalazewa were retrieved while two others survived with minor injuries.
Magago Sub-county chairperson, Mr Moses Bwamiki, blamed the accident on overloading.
The second accident occurred in Mayuge District when a boat travelling from Simwe Island in Mayuge District to Jaguzi Island in Namayingo District, capsized killing three people and leaving one critically injured.
The deceased have been identified as Gorrett Byobona, 21, Ajambo Wandera, 30, and Sale Masiga, 37, while the survivor, Mr Swaibu Mulaza, 40, is receiving treatment at Buluba Hospital.
Simwe Sub-county Chairperson, Mr Geoffrey Maganda, warned residents against using the Lake during bad weather to avoid such accidents.
Maj James Nuwagaba, the commander of UPDF Marine Department in the area on Tuesday said all people who travel on the lake should stop ignoring the requirement of wearing wear life jackets.
“We advise them to put on life jackets but they are very stubborn and they instead create allegations that we demand money from them. The gadgets are available but they don’t care about their lives,’’ Maj Nuwagaba said.
The Acting Mayuge District Police Commander (DPC), Ms Diana Namutunzi said no one is supposed to travel on the lake while it is raining.
She said: “The fishermen are aware that when it’s raining they are not supposed to travel anywhere but because they want to engage in illegal fishing they defy the directive. They also travel at night because they are dodging police. Such accidents are now.’’
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