20 people rescued from sinking water bus on Lake Victoria

20 people escaped death by a whisker after they were rescued from a sinking water bus on Lake Victoria.

They had been traveling from Mageta Island to Usenge beach in Bondo sub-county when the incident occurred.

According to the Chief of Mageta location Ambrose Ogema, the water bus had a mechanical breakdown after one of its engines failed near Sirigombe Island.

He told Radio Ramogi that passengers who were aboard other boats went to the rescue immediately after they saw the water bus starting to sink.

Mr. Ogema said passengers who were on the water bus had already jumped out and since all of them had life jackets, none of them drowned.

They were later taken to the nearby Kabarua beach and others to Mageta health center for medical check-up.

On Friday, Uganda issued an alert over Lake Victoria’s water levels that have surged to their highest level in more than half a century after about eight months of relentless downpours.

According to Reuters, sections of waterfront properties such as luxury hotels including one belonging to a unit of Nairobi-listed Tourism Promotion Services and a Protea Hotel which is part of Marriott International, became submerged in the last few weeks.

Uganda’s water and environment minister Sam Cheptoris further warned that the situation could pose a threat to Uganda’s hydropower plants.