16 bodies retrieved from Lake Albert boat tragedy: Uganda police

The Uganda Police Force has revealed that six more bodies were retrieved from the Lake Albert boat tragedy bringing the total number to 16.

Albertine Regional Police spokesperson Julius Hakiza confirmed the identities through a statement on their Twitter page on Tuesday.

“Six more bodies recovered have been identified as Ayiyorwotha Komakech (15years), Kyoshaba Bob (28yrs), Balikenda Kisembo (20yrs), Adinan Oscar (18yrs), Pirwoth Opek rwoth (20yrs) and Jango Filisido (26yrs),”

According to CNN, players and fans were traveling to a match when the boat capsized during a thunderstorm just a few minutes after it left the dock in the district of Hoima, in western Uganda.

Fishermen and a marine unit rescued more than 30 people from the scene of Sunday’s accident.

Authorities said the death toll might rise as passengers were not wearing life jackets.

Fatal boat accidents are not uncommon in Uganda.

In 2016, at least 30 members of a football team and their fans who were having a party died after their boat capsized on Lake Albert, which borders Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Another 35 people died last year after a cruise boat capsized on Lake Victoria.

Additional report from CNN