Day of national mourning declared for boat accident victims

Government on Tuesday declared one day of national mourning for dozens of people who died in the weekend boat accident on Lake Victoria.  Gen Moses Ali, the First Deputy Prime Minister, told Parliament that Friday will be observed as a mourning day for the people who perished after a boat capsized on Saturday near Mutima Island in the central district of Mukono.  “I extend government’s condolences to the bereaved families and declare Nov. 30 a mourning day for the deceased,” said Moses Ali.  Legislators on Tuesday paid tribute to over 30 people who drowned after their boat capsized, with some blaming the government for failure to inspect the worthiness of the vessel.  At least some 35 bodies have been retrieved and 27 people rescued from the Saturday accident, according to the military.  The boat reportedly carried more than 120 weekend revellers, beyond its capacity of 50 from KK beach in Ggaba headed to Mutima Island on Lake Victoria.