Twelve feared dead in Uganda boat capsize

Twelve people are feared dead after a boat capsized on a lake in Uganda, police say.

The boat, overloaded with fish and timber, was carrying 18 people when it overturned on Monday morning on Lake Albert in the country's northwest due to strong winds, police spokesman Julius Hakiiza told dpa.

Six people have been rescued, but 12 others remain missing, with rescue operations still ongoing, according to Hakiiza.

Boat accidents occur frequently in the East African nation, mostly due to overloading, poor weather conditions and people travelling long distances using old wooden vessels.