KAMPALA, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Uganda police and ministry of transport have started the inspection of passenger boats and vessels following a boat cruise tragedy on Lake Victoria that left at least 32 people dead, a police spokesperson said here Monday.

Emilian Kayima, Uganda police spokesperson, said in a statement that the exercise is aimed at ensuring the worthiness of life jackets, boats and vessels in order to avoid endangering lives of passengers.

"The Uganda police marine unit are in the process of carrying out massive operations together with the ministry of transport to inspect all boats and vessels on our water bodies to ensure their worthiness in avoidance of endangering lives as it was recently," Kayima said.

At least 32 dead bodies were recovered, 27 survivors rescued when the ill-fated vessel capsized near Mutima Island in the central district of Mukono on Nov. 24, according to the police.

Kayima said there is an ongoing investigation to establish the cause of the tragedy, which has been blamed on overloading, the vessel's poor mechanical condition and bad weather. Enditem

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