Kigoma – Seven officials from the Kigoma District Council have died after their boat overturned in strong winds on Lake Tanganyika on the morning of Friday, March 13, 2026. The health workers were on a mission to provide essential vaccination services to a remote village near the Burundian border.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:00 a.m. local time near Kalalangabo village in the Kigoma-Ujiji municipality. The vessel was reportedly overwhelmed by high waves and strong winds, a common occurrence on the vast lake.
Nine other passengers were rescued from the water by local fishermen and emergency responders. They are currently receiving treatment at the Maweni Regional Referral Hospital in Kigoma.
Rescue teams have been searching for the remaining missing official, identified as Amos Sika, a 33-year-old dentist. The confirmed deceased are Erick Dabanga, 27; Jofrey Aron, 26; Rachael Msalila, 29; Winny Bayabusani, 32; Joyce Kandole, 31; Paul Luvanda, 31; and Omari Karim, 29.
The team was travelling to the village of Kagunga to deliver immunisation services and support the rollout of a universal health insurance scheme. The area hosts a significant population of Burundian refugees, making such outreach programmes vital for public health.
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Kigoma Regional Commissioner, Ambassador Simon Sirro, led a memorial service, describing the deceased as heroes who died while performing their national duties. He stated that the loss of the young public servants was a great tragedy for the nation.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has pledged the government’s full support for the victims’ families and the survivors. The government will cover all funeral expenses, including a payment of one million shillings for each deceased individual, and will also pay for the medical treatment of all the injured.
Investigations into the accident have raised serious safety concerns. Reports have confirmed that the boat was not equipped with any life jackets for its 18 passengers. Eyewitnesses also reported that a tarpaulin covering the vessel collapsed during the capsizing, which may have trapped some of the victims and hindered their escape.
An eyewitness, Habibu Ibrahim, recounted seeing the boat struggling against the strong winds before it overturned. “We took nearby canoes and rushed about 40 metres from the shore to begin rescuing those who were on board,” he said.
This tragic event was not the only fatal incident on the lake that day. In a separate tragedy, a fisherman was killed, and two others were injured after their canoe was struck by lightning, highlighting the severe weather conditions in the region.
The incident occurred during a period of unusually heavy rainfall across East Africa, which experts link to the early onset of the rainy season. The severe weather has increased the risks associated with transport on the region’s vast inland lakes.
Lake Tanganyika is the world’s longest freshwater lake and the second deepest, bordering Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Zambia. Its immense size and depth make it susceptible to sudden and violent storms, posing a constant danger to the many communities that rely on it for transport and their livelihoods.
Officials have called for stricter enforcement of maritime safety regulations and urged all vessel operators to closely monitor weather forecasts. The loss of the health workers is a significant blow to the Kigoma region, where mobile medical teams are essential for delivering healthcare to remote and vulnerable populations.
