Uganda: Boat accident on Lake Albert claims 107

One hundred and seven people have died after a boat capsized in a lake along the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ugandan police said on Monday after recovering more bodies.

The boat carrying mostly Congolese citizens tipped over early on Saturday in Lake Albert.

Police said that they estimate about 150 people were on the boat – latest reports indicate that 41 people have been rescued and 107 bodies recovered, no more survivors are expected.

Lake Albert is about 160 km (100 miles) long and 30 km wide and is the northernmost of a chain of lakes in the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the Rift Valley.

The boat began its journey at the northern end of the lake and was heading south to a landing site on the Ugandan shoreline when it ran into trouble at around mid-morning.

Popular with local traders and fishermen, boats – criss-cross the lake linking the towns and villages that dot the shoreline.