Islanders raise the red flag over overloaded ferry

Facility. Travellers disembark from MV Kalangala ferry at Nakiwogo pier in Entebbe on November 11. PHOTO BY EVE MUGANGA

What you need to know:

  • Response. Mr Musoke revealed that they are in the process of procuring a second modern vessel.
  • But State Minister for Works Gen Katumba Wamala said overcrowding on the vessel is bad enough even if it carries less cargo.

Kalangala. Travellers to and from Kalangala District who use MV Kalangala ferry daily have asked government to prevail over the managers of Nation Oil Limited, the operators of the vessel, whom they accuse of overloading it.
The residents said their lives are at risk since the overloaded vessel could capsize.
Although MV Kalangala is licensed to carry only 150 passengers and 12 vehicles, sometimes the vessel reportedly loads 200 passengers and 14 vehicles respectively.

“We are raising this issue in good faith. Water transport is sensitive and we don’t want those people to continue risking our lives. We want to avoid a disaster similar to the one that befell our neighbours in Tanzania recently,” Mr Moses Ssebwami, a regular visitor at Kalangala using the vessel, said on Tuesday.
In September, MV Nyerere, which was plying the route between Ukerewe and Ukara Islands in neigbouring Tanzania, capsized, killing at least 281 people.

The cause of the accident is not yet clear, but overloading is frequently to blame for such incidents.
A couple of years ago, travellers using MV Kalangala vessel also complained about its sailing schedules, saying it spends longer hours to connect to the islands.
MV Kalangala, which is the only active vessel on the Entebbe–Kalangala route, was built in 2005, in fulfilment of President Museveni’s 2001 campaign pledge to the islanders.

Delays
Although the vessel is supposed to leave Kalangala at 8:30am and dock at Nakiwogo in Entebbe at 11am, these days it leaves the islands at 9:30 am and takes between 5 and 6 hours to dock at Nakiwogo.
Mr Willy Lugoloobi, the Kalangala District chairperson, wondered how the vessel could be in such a state yet government spends a lot of money on its annual servicing and repair.

“It’s true the ship delays on the way and also overloads. It’s supposed to carry not more than 150 passengers according to their insurance cover I saw, but it’s unfortunate that it carries 200 passengers. When I raised this concern with the Ministry of Works and Transport officials, they said since the vessel carries less tonnes of cargo, passengers can cover up that tonnage,’’ Mr Lugoloobi said.

But State Minister for Works Gen Katumba Wamala said overcrowding on the vessel is bad enough even if it carries less cargo.
“I didn’t know that the operator overloads the ship. That’s wrong [overloading] because they shouldn’t look at only the tonnes, but also passengers’ comfort, how they sit, I am going to follow up that,’’ Gen Katumba said by telephone.
The captain of the vessel said sometimes the vessel spends more time to reach its destination because of strong waves which slows down its speed.

When contacted, Mr Sadala Musoke, the managing director National Oil Distributors, refuted allegations levelled against his firm.
“Whatever is said is not true, that ship began operations in 2005 and if something was to happen, it could have happened long time ago. People should stop that propaganda, all those making those unfounded allegations are just envious of our progress,’’ Mr Musoke said.

According to Richard Musisi, the Kalangala District Police Commander, at least 18 marine related deaths were registered in Kyamuswa Island between June and August as a result of overloading and bad weather.

Operation
MV Kalangala is operated by Nations Oil Distributors Ltd which undertook a contract in April 2015. However, servicing and repairing of the vessel is done by Ministry of Works and Transport.
According to one of captains operating the vessel, who preferred anonymity to speak freely about the matter, the vessel is licensed to carry 150 tonnes.