HOIMA – In a bid to reduce drownings on Lake Albert, Police Marine have set up community policing on different landing sites.
On Tuesday 26, the Marine carried out community policing in the landing sites of Kyenyanja, Nsonga, Bugoma, Senjojo and Kitebere along the shores of Lake Albert.
The aim of the sensitization was to teach the residents about the importance of life jackets on the water.
During the meeting, the locals agreed that whoever is got in the lake without a life jacket should be forced to buy it.
According to Police, this will ensure that people who use water as a means of transport are safe and secure from any water-related incident.
Transporters on the lake after sensitization bought 100 life jackets that were distributed to residents.
In May this year, at least thirty people died after a boat carrying football players and fans capsized in Lake Albert.
It should be remembered that in December 2016, at least 30 Ugandan members of a village football team and their fans drowned in the Lake Albert in Bullisa district. They were from Kaweibanda landing site heading for a friendly football match at Runga landing site.
Still on the same lake, in 2014, at least 98 bodies were recovered and 41 rescued after a boat carrying as many as 250 Congolese refugees capsized. The refugees were living in Uganda’s Kyangwali settlement and were heading back home on their own accord.
