Fears that 20 people may have died after a boat capsized in the Ngosi River in Uganda

Written by: Mohamed Ragab

Media reports indicate that rescue teams in western Uganda are continuing Operations The search is underway following a tragic accident in which a boat capsized in the Ngosi River, amid fears that at least 20 people on board at the time of the accident may have died.

Ugandan authorities stated that the boat capsized earlier while carrying more than 30 passengers before sinking in the waters. RiverThis resulted in a large number of passengers being lost, while rescue teams have managed to pull out eight survivors so far.

Authorities confirmed that survivors are receiving necessary medical care, while families of the missing and potential victims were urged to come forward with information that could help identify the passengers and expedite search efforts.

Uncovering the circumstances of the incident

The maritime police in Kigadi province have launched an official investigation to uncover the circumstances of the incident and determine the main reasons that led to the boat capsizing.

Initial investigations indicated that overloading may have been one of the main factors, along with sailing during night hours, as well as the technical condition of the boat.

According to local media reports, the boat was a homemade dinghy and was also carrying a cargo of coal sacks, which may have contributed to the weight gain and imbalance while sailing.

Water transport safety in Uganda

The incident brings back to the forefront ongoing concerns about the safety of water transport in Uganda and several East African countries, where boat accidents are frequent due to weak safety measures, non-compliance with prescribed load limits, and the use of boats that lack safety standards.

The region has witnessed several similar disasters in recent years, particularly in Lake Victoria, which is one of the largest lakes in Africa and sees heavy traffic between neighboring countries.

In one of the worst recorded incidents, hundreds of people died in 2018 when a passenger ferry sank on the Tanzanian side of Lake Victoria, prompting widespread calls for stricter controls on water transport.

The search operations are expected to continue in the coming hours, amid anticipation of the announcement of the final death toll, at a time when calls are increasing to improve maritime safety standards and prevent the recurrence of such human tragedies.