Amolatar, Uganda: Seven people have been confirmed dead and 29 others clinging on survival after a boat carrying mourners capsized on Lake Kyoga in Amolatar District on Friday morning.
According to the territorial maritime police on Lake Kyoga, the accident occurred on September 18, 2025, at around 11:00 am near Kiryanga Village, Acii Sub County, about 400 meters from the landing site.
The boat, which had 36 passengers on board, was escorting a catechist to a burial ceremony when it struck a stationary tree stump and overturned.
Police said 29 people managed to survive, while seven perished and bodies retrieved. The deceased include Odeke Steven, 65, LC1 chairperson of Muchora Abino A village in Amolatar; Aguti Catherine, 55, from Dokolo District; Abonyo Sylvia, 35, from Soroti District; Ogwal Jaspher, 38, from Amolatar; Ejang Robina, 30, from Amolatar Town Council; Agwech Semmy, 20, from Etam Sub County, Amolatar, and a body of one unidentified male adult.
The bodies, police said, were taken to Amolatar Health Centre IV mortuary for postmortem.
This tragedy adds to a string of recent fatal boat accidents on Lake Kyoga, where communities heavily depend on water transport despite poor safety enforcement.
In the past year, dozens have died in separate incidents linked to overloading, lack of life jackets, and collisions with tree stumps in shallow waters.
Local leaders and safety advocates have repeatedly called for stricter regulation of water transport, improved navigation markings, and mandatory life jackets to prevent more loss of life on Uganda’s inland lakes.
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