Boat tragedy: Police quiz Wasajja, other survivors

Kampala. Police have interrogated Prince David Wasajja, the young brother to Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi, and other survivors over the November 24 boat cruise accident that claimed lives of 32 revellers on Lake Victoria.
Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima said Prince Wasajja, the marine police, who allowed the boat to sail after learning it was mechanically defective, had been interrogated to understand what happened before, during and after the MV Templar capsized.

“We interviewed survivors including Prince Wasajja. We also recorded statements from our marine officers who were at the scene to understand what happened before the boat set off but they have not been arrested,” Mr Kayima said.
Mr Kayima dismissed claims that marine police at Ggaba Beach, the point of departure, who failed to stop the ill-fated boat from sailing, had been apprehended.

He quickly added that police officers at Ggaba Beach were overpowered by revellers when they tried to stop the MV Templar from moving on the water. Its coxswain reportedly declined to captain the boat but the owner, who also perished alongside his wife in the tragedy, instead hired another captain.
Ms Zurah Ganyana, who was the spokesperson for the eight-day rescue and recovery mission, said police had officially called off the operations since their deep divers had failed to trace more bodies in the lake. The capsized boat was reportedly carrying more than 100 revellers heading to K-Palm Beach about 15kms ahead of Mutima Beach where the tragedy occurred.

On responding to questions whether there could be more bodies trapped at the bottom of the lake, Ms Ganyana, said only five people were unaccounted for by the time the operation was called off.
Police said in its full report that 27 bags, seven phones, 12 national IDs, nine chairs, one generator, four pairs of male shoes, three pairs of female shoes, and an assortment of clothes were recovered from the waters.

“Money recovered was Shs500,000 and some has already been reclaimed by rightful owners. In particular we applaud the big heart of the late Bosco Owecho, a local fisherman from Buzindeere Island who died while rescuing those trapped in the boat tragedy,” Ms Ganyana said.
Police said they had not established the actual number of revellers aboard the capsized boat because it was hard since all eyewitnesses and survivors gave contradicting figures.

“Many eyewitnesses were giving us different estimates. We were told that many people were on this boat but most of those who had been rescued just ran away either because of shock or it was intentional. We only have 26 survivors on record,” Mr Kayima said.
He said a directive had been given to all marine officers to ensure all boats sailing on waters are registered and should always work in hand with beach owners to register revellers before travel.

Police guidelines

Police yesterday re-echoed guidelines issued in 2016 days after 13 revellers drowned at Entebbe beaches on Boxing Day. The guidelines include restricting swimming past 6pm, denying drunken revellers access to swimming pools and beaches and ensuring security for all reveller.

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