MV Kalangala resumes operations ahead of easter feast

Kalangala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | MV Kalangala is set to resume operations ahead of Easter festivities, almost a month after undergoing routine maintenance. Sadala Musoke, the Executive Director Nation Oil Distributors Limited that operates MV Kalangala, says the vessel is set to resume operations this afternoon with a testing route voyage from Nakiwogo to Lutoboka in Kalangala.

He says they will charge the same fares of Shillings 10,000 for 2nd class travellers and Shillings 14,000 for 1st class travellers. During festive seasons, the vessel which often does a single round trip makes three trips to cater for the overwhelming number of tourists.

However, this time around, Sadala says that they will only operate the normal trip during the Easter feast.

Islanders have been travelling aboard SSENCAT, an engine water vessel at Shillings 20,000 each trip as well as MV Vanessa and MV Natalie at Shillings 350,000 on normal weekdays in the absence of MV Kalangala.

However, over the weekend, they would fork out Shillings 110,000 for a return trip. Hoteliers in Kalangala say the number of tourists were on verge of cancelling their Easter journeys due to the absence of MV Kalangala. They are hopeful that its return will boost their incomes lost during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Daniel Mwanje, the proprietor of Dreamland Guest House says that most of the places are booked to full capacity.

Mwanga says that they will operate in full compliance of the Covid-19 SOPs to ensure the safety of their guests and staff.

Wellen Twinamasiko, a boda boda rider in Kalangala says their main source of income is MV Kalangala whose routine servicing leaves them jobless. He has appealed to the government to provide a second vessel that can substitute MV Kalangala whenever it suspends operations.

Employees on the mainland have been experiencing a rough time accessing their families due to the hiked transport fares ever since the suspension of the vessel. Esther Kyomuhendo whose family is on the mainland, says the vessel eases her transport challenges.

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