KAMPALA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people were killed after a boat on which they were traveling in capsized on the River Nile in the district of Apac in the Northern Region of Uganda, according to a police statement issued here Tuesday.

The boat transporting casual laborers from the Kungu landing site to Masindi port capsized at around 4 a.m., local time, Monday, said Patrick Okema, North Kyoga regional police spokesperson, in the statement.

"The time they reached Kungu landing site, they found that the ferry was not working and they decided to board a small canoe to cross to Masindi port landing site," said Okema.

The police spokesperson said the search is underway to recover the bodies of the nine laborers from River Nile.

"Four survivors were taken to a nearby health center for treatment while nine dead bodies are being searched for in the water," said Okema.

The fatal incident comes barely a week following two separate boat accidents on Lake Victoria, which left at least six people dead.

Boat accidents in the East African country's lakes and rivers are common due to overloading and bad weather. Enditem

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