MV Templar boat tragedy survivors pray for their lost ones at Mutima beach

On Sunday 24th November marked one year since MV Templar capsized on Lake Victoria about 500 metres away at Mutima beach in Mukono district.

The boat, which was carrying nearly 100 revellers heading to an afternoon of partying capsized after developing mechanical problems and 31 people lost their lives.

Some of the survivors and residents of the community around the accident site converged at Mutima beach over the weekend to pray for those who lost their lives.

Arnold Ssimbwa one of the survivors said:"I went to the spot where the boat capsized and I paid my respects and I thought I had overcome the trauma. But when I came here I actually broke down I could see things a fresh."

He said the experience he got from the incident made him to re-evaluate his life and now he is an advocate for water transport safety.

“Personally, I am an ambassador for safe water transport that help people to learn how to survive in water in case of an accident. That is all I can do basing on what I passed through,"he said.

During the prayers, the survivors also managed to get scholarships for the kids of some of the life savers who died while trying to save lives.

The survivors also dismissed that allegations that they had abandoned the locals.

“For those people who say that who don’t help out really ,they should really be patient these things you don’t come from heaven and just give out,”Shafik Ssentamu said.

Prince David Wasajja, who survived the accident, joined other survivors to donate items to the families of people who saved them.