The pleasure cruise vessel was believed to be overcrowded when it capsized and sank.
MUKONO, Uganda — Ugandan divers retrieved 31 bodies and expected to find more in a capsized vessel in Lake Victoria, making it one of the country’s worst maritime disasters and prompting the president to call for more stringent safety regulations.
The vessel was believed to be overcrowded with nearly 100 passengers, said Zurah Ganyana, a senior police officer. At least 27 people were rescued overnight, lower than earlier reports, she said.
The boat, on a routine pleasure cruise and full of mostly youthful revelers, overturned and sank about 7 p.m. Saturday, she said.
Among the many tragic stories was one of a man who went out to help rescue people and drowned when he was dragged underwater by a desperate passenger.
The MV Templa was in poor condition, had been grounded for some time and lacked a valid license to operate, authorities said. Marine police tried to prevent the boat from embarking on the cruise, but they were overwhelmed by the presence of two local princes among the passengers, they said.
