news 23 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
MV Kabalega Sinking: Twin Probes Uncover Vessel Insurance Lapses
Investigations into the 2005 sinking of the MV Kabalega on Lake Victoria revealed critical failures in insuring the Uganda Railways Corporation's vessels, a finding echoed by both parliamentary and ministerial probes. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/people-power/past-and-present-parallel-probes-reveal-failure-to-insure-vessels-after-mv-kabalega-sinks-5470988
Twenty-one years after the MV Kabalega tragically sank in Lake Victoria, parallel investigations into the incident have brought to light significant shortcomings in the insurance status of Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) vessels.
The collision between MV Kabalega and MV Kaawa occurred on May 5, 2005, when both ferries, operated by URC, were navigating Lake Victoria. MV Kabalega, en route to Port Bell from Mwanza, Tanzania, with a cargo of approximately 6,800 tonnes of wheat, sustained severe damage to its buoyancy tank after colliding with MV Kaawa, which was traveling in the opposite direction.
In the aftermath, two distinct inquiries were launched. The parliamentary committee on Works and Transport, led by Mr. John Byabagambi, initiated its probe into the circumstances surrounding the collision and URC’s management. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Works, under Minister John Nasasira, established a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, headed by former Attorney General Bart Katureebe, to thoroughly investigate the incident and the condition of the vessels.
Key findings from these parallel investigations highlighted a lack of proper qualifications among some crew members, as revealed by testimonies suggesting the officer in charge of MV Kaawa at the time of the collision lacked necessary marine training. Poor communication between the vessels and missing navigation equipment were also cited as contributing factors.
Most critically, the Katureebe Commission uncovered that URC had failed to insure its ferries, including both MV Kabalega and MV Kaawa. URC officials attributed this lapse to funding issues and disputes over responsibility between the corporation’s board and the ministry. However, the acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Mr. Grace Itazi, stated that as a commercial entity, URC management was responsible for securing insurance. This lack of insurance cover meant URC would bear the full financial burden for recovery, repair, and compensation related to the incident.