The boat carrying more than 20 people, residents of Mbegu landing site in Buseruka Sub- country in Hoima District reportedly capsized at around 3 am.
The boat occupants allegedly sneaked and crossed to Mukambu, Mahagi Zone in Bunia District, Ituri Province in Eastern DR Congo for burial on Saturday last week and met their fateful night while returning to Uganda.
Identities of the deceased were not yet readily available by press time.
According to Mr Sulaimman Wako, a resident of Mbegu landing site, five people have so far been rescued from the lake.
They were rescued by fishermen from the DR Congo and taken to Mukambu landing site in DR Congo.
Among some of those rescued include; Ajaru Katanga, Aduba, Pyer Sesanga and an 1-year-old child whose name was not readily available by press time.
Mr Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson told this website “that all the people on the boat, residents of Mbegu landing site allegedly beat security and crossed to DR Congo after receiving information that their relative had died”.
He added that: “The boat accident occurred on Monday morning as they were coming back to Uganda after the burial”.
The boat capsized on the other side of the DR Congo.
However, the cause of the accident could have been overloading since more than 20 people were on the small boat that is meant to carry only 10 people.
The police publicist said currently the Ugandan authorities are liaising with their counterparts from the DR Congo to commence the search for the missing bodies.
Mr Hakiza further explained that investigations into how people illegally sneaked into the DR Congo given the heavy security deployed on the Lake Albert waters are underway.
This comes few weeks after another accident happened on May 25, 2020 when eight people died after a boat in which they were travelling capsized on Lake Albert.
