Fishing communities in Mukono and Buikwe districts have formed local committees to regulate passenger boats and stem the number of accidents on Lake Victoria.
At least three boats have capsized in the last two weeks and claimed the lives of ten people in both districts. On March 3, 2022, six people died when their boat capsized on its way from Kiyindi landing site to Namatale in Bwema sub-county in Buvuma district.
The six bodies were recovered and handed over to their relatives for burial. On March 8, 2022, another boat capsized at Lukoma Village in Busamuzi Sub County Buvuma district killing Oleka Wasswa and Muzama Kawula.
On Sunday night, another boat travelling from Luziru in Kkoome Islands to Mawoto landing site in Mpatta sub-county capsized killing Martin Ozele and Keneth Mutula dead.
Three other people on the boat managed to escape since they were wearing life jackets. As a result, the fishing communities of kiyindi and Katosi landing sites have formed committees to examine and control passenger and commodity boats.
Bernard Mwebe, the LC I Chairperson of the Kiyindi landing site, says that the committee comprises five people, three of whom are tasked with examining the status and condition of the boat, the weight of the commodities loaded on the boat whereas the other two are tasked with sensitizing people about safety on the water.
“It is on a rare occasion that marine police monitor passenger boats. Several people risk moving on the water without life jackets. Most of them are overloaded despite having several patches, which easily cause leakage once they encounter strong winds and force the boat to sink into deep waters,” Mwebe said.
Amir Kiggundu, a councillor at Kiyindi town council, says that the Marine police Unit abandoned its role of monitoring passenger boats and concentrates on fishing boats, especially during night hours.
Fred Gonja, the Katosi fishing community Secretary, says in spite of the fact that police established a marine department in their area, it is not fully facilitated to discharge its mandate. He notes that they have resolved that the committee starts monitoring and examining passenger boats before leaving the landing sites.
Hamidu Lubowa, the Mpatta Gombolola Internal Security Officer-GISO blames the increasing number of boat accidents on poor monitoring by the marine police. He notes that the few operations conducted by the Marine police are marred by bribery by boat operators.
Godfrey Luiga, the Ssezibwa Marine Police Commander, says that they have a strategic plan for monitoring but sometimes boat operators beat their system and end up in danger. He notes that they have sensitized them on proper procedures for manning passenger boats, but many of them act otherwise.
FOR MORE CLICK HERE
