70 feared dead in boat accident in Uganda

KAMPALA - Over 70 people are feared to have drowned after storms overturned an overloaded boat in Uganda’s Lake Albert, reports said Monday.

The accident was the latest in a spate of regional boating accidents - in Uganda and neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo - which in total have claimed hundreds of lives.

“The boat had a capacity of 40 people and two tonnes of fish, but it was carrying about 90 people plus luggage,” The New Vision newspaper quoted local police official Romeo Ojara as saying

At least 73 people are believe to have died in the accident which happened Saturday. Rescuers are still searching for bodies.

Boating accidents are common in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where over-loaded boats ferry passengers across lakes and down river networks.

A similar accident in DR Congo last week claimed at least 138 lives.