Revellers threatened to drown officer who stopped the ill fated boat from taking off- Government

The government is not yet done with piling more accusations on the owner and occupants of the ill-fated Templar boat.

When summoned to give an account of the boat cruise disaster, Works Minister Monica Ntege Azuba maintained that ill-fated boat had been barred from operation even on that fateful day, but the owner, Templar Bisase backed by revellers who could not wait to sail protested the police directive.

“The officer was suspicious of the vessel’s sea worthiness, but the vessel owner and some revellers threatened to throw the officer in water,” she said.

Azuba’s report detailed that prior to the sailing, even the vessel captain developed cold hands and refused to take off, prompting Templar to hand over the boat to another not- so- experienced captain.

“Because he (captain) had disagreed with the vessel owner about its mechanical condition, the owner was forced to engage a skipper to navigate the vessel,” Azuba added.

However, Kampala Central Member of Parliament Mohammed Nsereko dismissed Azuba’s claims, stating that the officers must have been bought off.

“Let us accept the facts, the officers must have been bought off and they left the boat proceed. There is nothing like being overpowered, they must have been bribed,” Nsereko said.

Leader of Opposition in Parliament Aol Betty Achan also maintained Nsereko’s stand, claiming that there is no crowd of revellers capable of overpowering an officer on duty safeguarding their interests.

Legislators accused government of incompetence in regards to registration, inspection and licensing of boats.

Meanwhile, Kyadondo East legislator Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine blamed government for failure to invest in life saving equipment.

“The government is using unskilled villagers, ropes to pull the boat out, that alone speaks volumes on our equipment to save lives.”

The family and friends of Templar Bisase, the owner of the ill fated boat that capsized on Lake Victoria killing 30 people, have accused government of using the deceased as scapegoat for their incompetence.