Congolese fishermen have retrieved the bodies of eight people who drowned in Lake Albert when their boat capsized on Monday.
According to Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson, the eight were returning to Hoima district together with several others from a funeral in Mukambu Mahagi Zone in Bunia district in the Democratic Republic of Congo when their boat capsized.
It is alleged that only four people, including Ajaru Kacanga, Aduba, Pyer Sesanga and an 11-year-old child survived the accident.
Hakiza says they are trying to establish contact with their Congolese counterparts to establish the exact number of people who perished in the Lake.
One resident of Mbegu landing site in Hoima district, says they received information from DR Congo indicating that 8 bodies of the boat accident victims were recovered from the Lake on Monday evening by Congolese fishermen and that the bodies are being transported to Kaswa immigration offices in Mahagi zone from where they will be repatriated to Uganda.
The Mbegu Landing Site LCI Chairperson Fred Irumba, wonders how the deceased crossed to DRC without clearance from his office, arguing that no one has approached his office in the last two weeks for clearance for travel.
Residents say it is a great shock to learn that people are sneaking into DRC despite the closure of the lake because of nationwide lockdown. The boat was allegedly carrying some people who were stranded in DRC since lockdown was announced in March.
