A Police marine boat has capsized on Lake Victoria after five marine officers on a rescue mission to recover bodies of persons who drowned earlier last week, got involved in an accident while returning to the shore after retrieving a body from the water.
ASP Luke Owoyesigire, the Deputy Public Relations Officer (PRO), Kampala Metropolitan (KMP), in a police statement released on August 6, 2023, said that, at about 10.00a.m, a marine police boat that was on a rescue mission to recover missing persons, who had drowned earlier last week got involved in an accident on Lake Victoria. He said that no death has been registered and all the officers are safe.
ASP Owoyesigire noted that, the incident underscores the unpredictable nature of the lake and the challenging conditions that the dedicated Marine officers encounter while executing their life-saving duties.
“Marine police department remains committed to upholding safety protocols and measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. We continue to collaborate with relevant authorities and stakeholders to enhance safety and rescue missions on the lake,” ASP Owoyesigire said.
He added that, investigations into the accident are ongoing, and further details will be provided as soon as they become available, emphasizing that their priority is to ensure the safety of personnel and the public while conducting rescue operations and patrolling the waters of Lake Victoria.
The efforts to retrieve more missing bodies from the accident that happened earlier last week are still on.
Police extends its heartfelt gratitude to all rescuers who have worked tirelessly and participated in the successful retrieval of bodies of the missing persons since the accident happened. Their bravery and dedication are commendable.
