Patrick Okello, a resident of Mbegu landing site in Hoima district, says they received information from DR Congo indicating that 8 bodies of the boat accident victims were recovered from the lake on Monday evening by Congolese fishermen.
The bodies of eight people who drowned in Lake Albert
when their boat capsized on Monday have been recovered. The eight were returning
to Hoima district together with several others from a funeral in Mukambu Mahagi Zone in Bunia district in the Democratic Republic of Congo when their boat capsized.
According to a source, only four people including Ajaru
Kacanga, Aduba, Pyer Sesanga and an 11-year-old child survived the accident.
Patrick
Okello, a resident of Mbegu landing site in Hoima district, says they received information
from DR Congo indicating that 8 bodies of the boat accident victims were recovered
from the Lake on Monday evening by Congolese fishermen.
He says the bodies are being transported to Kaswa
immigration offices in Mahagi zone from where they will be repatriated to
Uganda.
//Cue in;” Accident Mutimbere wa…
Cue out:…Ngadi ngadi ngadi.”//
Fred Irumba, the Mbegu Landing Site LCI Chairperson wonders
how the deceased crossed to DRC without clearance from his office. He explained
that no one has approached his office in the last two weeks for clearance for
travel.
//Cue in;”Tukuhura ba mbegu…
Cue out:…Abantu bali munana.”//
Geoffrey Opio, a resident of Mbegu says it is a great shock
to learn that people are sneaking into DRC despite the closure of the lake
because of nationwide lockdown. He says they are still verifying the number of people
who died in the accident.
//Cue in; ”Those dead people…
Cue out…That Kaswa landing site.”//
A fisherman who spoke to Uganda Radio Network on condition of
anonymity at Mbegu landing site explained that the boat was carrying some
people who were stranded in DRC since lockdown was announced in March.
Julius
Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson told URN that they were trying
to establish contact with their Congolese counterparts to establish the exact number
of people who perished in the Lake.
