A canoe carrying dozens of passengers capsized on a river in western Uganda late Tuesday, leaving more than 30 people feared missing as search and rescue operations continued, police said.
The vessel, believed to have been carrying between 35 and 40 people, overturned on the River Nguse near Kyaleni village in Kagadi district at around 8:30 p.m., according to local authorities.
Police said only one survivor had been identified so far, while the exact number of passengers remains unclear due to the absence of a manifest.
Marine police units have been deployed to the scene, where rescue teams are searching for survivors and recovering bodies. Authorities have urged relatives of those believed to have been on board to report to local police stations to assist with identification efforts.
Local reports indicated that many of the passengers were returning from charcoal-burning activities in nearby forest areas, with some accounts suggesting the canoe was also carrying goods at the time of the incident.
Preliminary investigations point to possible overloading, night travel, and the poor condition of the vessel as contributing factors, police said.
Dozens are now feared dead, though officials have not confirmed a final toll as search efforts continue.
Water transport accidents are relatively common in Uganda, where boats are often overcrowded and lack proper safety measures, contributing to frequent fatal incidents on lakes and rivers.