The death toll from a boat accident on Lake Victoria in Mayuge District, Eastern Uganda, has risen to six.

The tragedy occurred on Tuesday evening, March 17, when a boat capsized at Bugoto landing site in Bukaboli Sub-county. Initially, three people were reported dead. On Wednesday, area LC1 Chairman Mr Sadala Wagende confirmed that three additional bodies had been recovered from the lake.

“We managed to rescue eight people out of the 14 who were in the boat,” Wagende said.

The deceased have been identified as Zulaika Naiwumbwe, Harriet Kisakye, Denis Mudobe, Badiru Gabunda Kapadu, Farouk Kapadu, and a yet-to-be-identified toddler.

Wagende explained that the overloaded vessel was transporting farmers from Buyengo landing site to Bugoto.

“This boat was overloaded with potatoes, jackfruits, and bananas. When a strong wind came, it capsized and sank,” he said.

Survivor Jamila Nabwire Kapadu confirmed the boat’s overloading, noting that it carried farm produce in addition to the 14 passengers.

“When the boat started sinking, some passengers rushed to rescue others, including me. I survived because I was the first to be rescued,” she said.

Boat owner Majidu Kapadu said four of the deceased were members of his family. “I am just stuck because four of the people who died are from my home,” he said, appealing to the government for support.

Busoga East police spokesperson Michael Kasadha said marine police intervened to recover the bodies and that investigations had begun to determine the cause of the incident.