Rescue operations are underway following two boat accidents that occurred on Lake Victoria approximately two days ago. One female victim’s body has been recovered, while efforts continue to retrieve the bodies of other victims.
The deceased, identified as Betty Nabwire, aged 45, was aboard a small boat with her husband Richard Ongodia, aged 50, who fortunately survived the incident on Tuesday evening.
The couple, residents of Bussi fishing village in Lwomolo Parish, Koome Sub County, Mukono District, were returning from their garden on Kisi Island, where they had gone to gather food. As of 1pm on Thursday, the bodies of five other individuals who were traveling in a separate boat from Kisaba landing site in Kyamuswa County, Kalangala District, to Katosi landing site in Mukono District, were still missing, according to Mr. Milton Ekopason, the officer-in-charge of Marine Police at Katosi landing site.
Mr. Ekopason attributed both accidents to overloading and turbulent waves on the lake. He stated, “Our divers and fishermen are actively engaged in a search and rescue operation to locate the missing individuals, whether they are alive or deceased.”