40 feared drowned in Uganda

KAMPALA, Uganda (Reuters) -- At least 40 people were feared drowned after their boat capsized in Lake Albert in western Uganda, police said on Tuesday.

A motor-powered boat with about 75 passengers, mostly traders, capsized on Sunday night due to a combination of overloading and bad weather.

"We rescued 34 passengers and retrieved 15 bodies. We are still searching. We think at least 40 must have drowned," regional police commander Grace Turyagumanwe said.

The boat was on its way from Masindi district to Nebbi district when it capsized.

In July at least 20 people drowned when two motorized canoes they were travelling in capsized in bad weather on the same lake. Dozens die in boat accidents on Uganda's lakes every year and police blame overloading by boat owners.

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