Rescuers were Wednesday evening still searching for five people who went missing following a boat accident on Lake Victoria on Monday.
The ill-fated boat, according to police, was transporting at least 10 passengers from Bukasa Island in Kalangala District to Mukono District in Ugandan side at around 5pm.
Mr Lameck Kigozi, the southern regional police spokesperson, said the boat hit a rock near Nkese Island in Kalangala District and capsized.
“Five of the victims were rescued by the fishermen who were on the lake doing their normal business. Five others are still missing, but a joint search by our marine personnel and local fishermen to see if we can get them alive or their bodies is on,” Mr Kigozi said on Wednesday
He said statements recorded from some of the survivors indicated that the boat was overloaded with sacks of charcoal.
Water transport is usually risky during the period between January to March and July to August due to the strong winds and turbulent waves on the lake and water transport users are always advised to wear life-saving jackets, but very few do so.
Mr Willy Lugoloobi, the Kalangala District chairperson, said the ill-fated boat was smuggling charcoal to neigbouring Kenya and all the 10 people were not putting on life jackets.
This latest boat accident comes two years after authorities in Kalangala failed to implement a district ordinance which was envisioned a year ago to streamline water transport in the district.