At least 45 people are feared dead after their boat capsized in Lake Albert in western Uganda on Monday morning. 

Uganda's mid-western regional police commander Grace Turyagumanawe was quoted Tuesday by local media as saying that 15 bodies had been retrieved from the lake by Monday.

The boat was traveling from Bugoigo in Bulisa County in Masindi district to Panyamuro in Nebbi district with about 75 passengers and merchandise.

The boat overturned at around 2:00 am (2300 GMT Sunday) Monday.

Turyagumanawe said that 34 passengers were rescued by Marine police and the police were still searching for more survivors and bodies.

He attributed the accident to overloading, saying that the boat was swept away by strong wind a few minutes after it had left Bugoigo landing site.

Recently, internal security officer in charge of the western region Dan Sserubiri banned traveling on the lake at night.

Last year, about 20 people were drowned in Lake Albert after their boat capsized. 

(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2004)