Mother, Two Children Drown After Boat Capsizes in Mayuge

Police in Busoga East have confirmed the death of three members of the same family who reportedly drowned in Lake Victoria on Tuesday evening after their boat capsized.

The deceased have been identified as Zaliika Naiwumbwe, 56, and her two children, Dennis Mudobi and Kisakye Nabirye, all residents of Bugoto Island in Mayuge District.

According to preliminary reports, the family members were travelling to tend to their garden on the neighbouring Buyengo Island when the accident occurred. The boat they were travelling in reportedly had eight people on board. Five of the passengers managed to swim to safety at the Ugoto landing site, while the other three drowned.

Local divers later retrieved the bodies and transported them to Mayuge Health Centre IV mortuary for a postmortem examination.

Mary Aliyinza, one of the survivors, said the accident happened after the boat was struck by strong winds that created large waves.

She explained that a sudden surge of wind generated a high wave that swept over the passenger boat, causing it to capsize almost instantly. According to her, the entire ordeal lasted about five minutes, and the rough water conditions made it difficult for divers on nearby islands to immediately attempt a rescue.

Aliyinza added that none of the passengers had life jackets, forcing them to rely on swimming as their only chance of survival despite the dangerous water conditions.

Majid Mukuve, the boat captain, said the vessel involved was a standard passenger boat licensed to carry up to 15 people, and that it had not exceeded its capacity at the time of the incident. He described the tragedy as an unfortunate accident caused by strong winds.

Mukuve also revealed that although the boat had three life jackets on board, they were worn out and not reliable enough to provide adequate safety during emergencies.

He noted that boat operators on the lake have since intensified efforts to encourage frequent water transport users to acquire personal life jackets to improve safety and increase chances of survival during accidents.

The Busoga East Police spokesperson, Mike Kasadha, confirmed the incident and said investigations have been launched to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the accident. He urged lake users to prioritise safety, especially during the rainy season, when Lake Victoria often experiences strong and unpredictable winds that can trigger dangerous waves.