About 30 people are feared missing after a boat capsized on the Nguse River in western Uganda on Tuesday night, in a tragic incident that has left families anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.
Police said the vessel was believed to have been carrying between 35 and 40 passengers, though the exact number remains unclear due to the absence of a passenger manifest. Authorities added that around eight people are believed to have survived after managing to swim to safety.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with divers returning to the river on Friday to continue efforts to recover victims and locate the missing.
Marine police officer Sulaiman Karungi said early indications suggest the boat may have been dangerously overloaded, noting that it was also transporting bags of charcoal at the time of the accident.
“If you see the boat and you are told that 40, 39 people were onboard, you cannot imagine it,” he said, highlighting concerns over unsafe transport practices on the river.
Officials say the cause of the incident is still under investigation, with overloading, night travel, and the poor condition of the vessel all being considered as possible factors.
River transport accidents are common in Uganda, where waterways are frequently used by communities due to limited road access, and boats are often old, poorly maintained, and overloaded beyond safe limits.
Families of the victims continue to gather at the riverbank and nearby communities, hoping for updates as rescue teams intensify their search.
