50 die after boat capsizes in Uganda's Lake Albert

August 02, 2010 03:16 pm | Updated November 28, 2021 09:15 pm IST - Kampala, Uganda

Congolese refugees fleeing fighting in the northeastern Congolese town of Bunia, arrive in boats in the soutwestern town of Ntoroko in Uganda, after crossing Lake Albert separating the two countries. File photo: AP.

Congolese refugees fleeing fighting in the northeastern Congolese town of Bunia, arrive in boats in the soutwestern town of Ntoroko in Uganda, after crossing Lake Albert separating the two countries. File photo: AP.

Ugandan police say more than 50 people have died after a boat they were travelling in capsized on Lake Albert in Uganda.

Zura Ganyana, a police spokesman, says the boat was carrying between 70 and 80 people, but only five survivors have been found and 17 bodies recovered. She said on Monday that they did not expect to rescue any more survivors from the accident late Saturday.

The boat capsized due to overloading, she said. A police chief in the area, Romeo Ojara, said that the boat had a capacity for only 40 people and two tons of fish.

Boat accidents are common on Uganda’s lakes. Last month more than 10 people died in a boat accident on the Ugandan side of Lake Victoria.

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