KAMPALA – At least 30 people have drowned after a boat carrying a football team and their supporters capsized on Lake Albert, Uganda, on Christmas Day.
The overcrowded boat, which was carrying around 45 people, lost its balance after too many passengers moved to one side, police told the AFP news agency.
Police say 15 people survived and nine bodies have been found so far.
“The water was calm but the problem came in when the merrymaking team and fans tilted on one side of the boat… It capsized killing about 30 people,” he added.
Police officers working with local fishermen managed to rescue 15 of the revellers, who were heading from the village of Kaweibanda in the western Buliisa District to watch a friendly Christmas Day match in Hoima District, Rutagira said.
The accident was the second major disaster on Uganda’s lakes in three days. Earlier, on Friday, about 20 people perished in similar circumstances on Lake Victoria.
