Death toll in Uganda boat accident rises to 33
The death toll of fun seekers who died in a boat accident in Uganda on Saturday has risen to thirty-three.
About 100 fun seekers had boarded the boat amid heavy drinking and partying, and were enroute different beaches in Mukono district, near Kampala, when tragedy struck. The boat was struck by powerful waves, causing it to capsize.
At least 10 deaths were recorded shortly after the accident occurred.
Police authorities in Uganda say a total of 33 bodies had been recovered from the water as at Monday. The boat owner and his wife were said to have also drowned.
A police spokesman, Patrick Onyango said a total of 27 victims had been rescued alive but the death toll was expected to rise.
One of the survivors, Shamirah Nsereko is quoted as saying to local NTV Uganda on Sunday night that the captain had repeatedly warned the revellers that the boat was tilting but they didn’t hear his commands in the midst of the fun.
“Suddenly, we saw one of the (music) speakers fall out, that was when things had gotten really bad,” she said.
Another survivor said attempts by some of the victims to jump off the boat into a canoe that arrived to carry out rescue operations proved futile as it also capsized.
“I jumped off it and back into the water after realising it wasn’t going to manage. A minute barely passed before it also capsized,” the survivor, Edward Kateregga said.
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni blamed the accident on overloading on Sunday.
