Tragedy Strikes Lake Victoria: Two Drown in Collision, Abducted Child Rescued in Mwanza
Mwanza, Tanzania – A devastating marine collision on Lake Victoria has claimed the lives of two fishermen, while authorities in Mwanza have successfully recovered a 10-month-old child abducted under mysterious circumstances. The twin incidents have left the community reeling, reinforcing concerns over safety on the lake and child security in the region.
The fatal accident occurred in the early hours of April 17 near Mihama area in Kitangiri Ward, Ilemela District. According to Mwanza Regional Police Commander Wilbrod Mutafungwa, the cargo vessel MV Uhuru, owned by the Kenya Railways Corporation and transporting coal from Mwanza South Port to Kisumu Port, collided with a fishing boat. The smaller vessel, registered as T.2M11 6529 and powered by a 9.9 HP Yamaha engine, was owned by Emmanuel Kakuru and carried four fishermen.
The impact caused the fishing boat to split apart and capsize, throwing all four occupants into the water. Two fishermen, Emmanuel Elias and Malindi Makeshi, were rescued, but tragically, Noel Julias and Peter Masanja drowned. The body of Peter Masanja was recovered on April 20, while search efforts for Noel Julias continue. Authorities are investigating the incident, liaising with the cargo vessel’s operators as part of legal proceedings.
In a separate but equally harrowing incident, Mwanza police recovered a 10-month-old child who had been abducted under suspicious circumstances. The child’s mother, 19-year-old Neema Sesela, initially reported that an unidentified man on a motorcycle snatched her daughter on April 18 at Bwiru Corner in Ilemela District. According to Sesela, a food vendor residing in Nyampala B Street, the abduction occurred along Vumbi Road during her daily routine.
Police launched an immediate investigation, aided by CCTV footage provided by a local resident, which captured an unidentified man leaving the scene with the child. A joint effort involving law enforcement and the community led to the child’s recovery on April 20 at Nyasaka Cemetery in Ilemela District. She was found abandoned, bruised, and in a weakened state, and was promptly taken to Mwanza Regional Referral Hospital for medical care.
“The child is currently undergoing further assessment at Sekou Toure Hospital, and her condition is improving,” Commander Mutafungwa stated. He confirmed that the child has been identified by her parents, adding that efforts to locate the suspect and the motorcycle used in the abduction are ongoing.
These incidents highlight growing concerns over child safety in the region. In another case, a 32-year-old woman from Bukala Street in Sengerema District, Levina Leonard, reported the abduction of her child, aged between 10 and 12 years, by an unknown person. The incident occurred on April 19 in Ibisabageni Ward and was reported to Sengerema Police Station. Leonard admitted to handing her child to an unfamiliar woman under unclear circumstances, creating an opportunity for the abduction.
Commander Mutafungwa urged parents and guardians to exercise extreme caution and avoid entrusting their children to strangers. “These incidents remind us of the importance of vigilance and care,” he emphasized.
As the community grapples with these tragedies, the Mwanza Regional Police continue their investigations into both the marine collision and the child abductions, striving to bring closure to the affected families.
— Reported by Nexio News
