Residents of Koome Islands and Katosi in Mukono District were left disappointed after the much-anticipated ferry failed to arrive for its official launch despite hours of waiting.
Hundreds of residents gathered at the Katosi landing site from morning until evening, expecting to witness the launch and begin using the new ferry service. However, the ferry did not arrive.
The failed launch followed a meeting where district leaders, including the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Members of Parliament and Mukono District Chairperson Francis Lukooya Mukoome, rejected a vessel presented by officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport.
The leaders argued that the vessel was only a passenger boat and did not meet the specifications of the ferry that had been promised to residents.
Nathan Wampi, the councillor representing Katosi Town Council, said ministry officials had presented a boat that resembled a ferry but could not transport vehicles.
“The government promised us a ferry that would carry passengers, luggage and vehicles. The vessel they brought does not meet that promise, which is why we rejected it,” Wampi said.
Many residents had arrived at the landing site carrying luggage, hoping to make the first trip to Koome Islands using the new service.
Currently, passengers pay between Shs15,000 and Shs21,000 to travel by boat between Katosi and Koome, a cost residents say has continued to limit movement and economic activity.
Residents expressed frustration, saying they had waited for years for the ferry and expected it to begin operating immediately after the launch.
Some youth who earn a living loading and unloading passengers and cargo at the landing site also raised concerns that the introduction of the ferry could affect their livelihoods. They asked government to provide alternative opportunities if the new service is introduced.
Mukono District Woman MP Sheila Amaniyo said the ferry is expected to transform life on Koome Islands by improving trade, tourism and access to healthcare services, especially for patients travelling to Mukono and Kampala for treatment.
Mukono District Chairperson Francis Lukooya Mukoome urged residents to remain patient, saying the delay appeared to have been caused by poor communication and inadequate preparations.
He noted that key infrastructure, including ferry docking facilities and a passenger waiting area, had not yet been completed.
By the end of the day, officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport had not issued a statement explaining the ferry’s absence or announcing a new launch date.
