By KT Reporter
Five more bodies have been retrieved from River Nkuse on the third day of search operations into a boat accident.
The five bodies were retrieved on Friday afternoon by the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and Uganda Police Force (UPF) marine divers.
The five recovered bodies bring to nine the total number of bodies so far retrieved from the river after four others were retrieved on Thursday.
The victims are part of the more than 20 people who are feared dead after a locally made canoe in which they were traveling capsized on the River Nguse.
The accident occurred on Tuesday evening at around 8:30 p.m. at Kyaleni Cell in Pacwa Town Council in the Kagadi district. Eight people are reported to have survived.
Following the boat tragedy, search operations were launched as UPDF and police marine teams combed the river for possible survivors and bodies of the missing passengers.
Justus Businge, the Pacwa town Council LC3 Chairperson, told Uganda Radio Network (URN) in an interview that five more bodies were retrieved on Friday afternoon as the search operations continue.
Julius Hakiza, Albertine region police spokesperson, says the search operation will continue until all missing persons are accounted for. He appeals to relatives to remain calm and to cooperate with authorities.
Preliminary reports indicate that a locally made canoe carrying more than 30 passengers and several bags of charcoal capsized while crossing the River Nguse.
The passengers were travelling from Kikuube District to Pacwa Town Council in Kagadi District when the tragedy occurred.
Police preliminary investigations point to overloading as the likely cause of the accident.
Eric Musana, the Buyaga East Member of Parliament, has appealed to the office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to extend support to the bereaved families, describing the incident as a disaster.
Yosia Ndibwami, the Kagadi LC5 Chairperson, says the district is compiling a list of all the affected persons for proper record, adding that his office has notified the government about the tragedy.
The victims are believed to have been mainly charcoal burners and farmers returning from Kikuube District, where they had crossed for charcoal burning and farming activities.
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