Five maritime police officers from Uganda who were sent to Lake Victoria to recover bodies after an accident that occurred last week were saved after their rescue boat crashed on Sunday, according to the police.
At least 20 people died in the accident on last Tuesday involving a boat that was overcrowded and perhaps carrying 34 people. Nine people were saved, while others were classified as missing.
Only five bodies—all women—had been discovered by the police on Saturday, according to sources.
They stated that they were “facing challenges” because of the dry lake and the huge amount of rain.
The event on Sunday, according to the police, “underscores the unpredictable nature of the lake and the difficult circumstances that our dedicated marine officers face while performing their life-saving duties.”
It states that the accident investigation is ongoing and that more information will be supplied as soon as it becomes available.
The report states that the hunt for the drowning victims’ bodies is still ongoing in the meantime.
In Uganda, boating accidents are widespread.