At least 30 drown in Uganda as boat carrying football team capsizes on Lake Albert

Police say overcrowded boat became unbalanced when too many passengers moved to one side

Uganda Police divers and local fishermen search for victims of a boat disaster on Lake Albert on 23 March, 2013 (MICHELE SIBILONI/AFP/Getty Images)

At least 30 people have drowned after a boat carrying a football team and their supporters capsized on Lake Albert, Uganda, on Christmas Day.

The overcrowded boat, which was carrying around 45 people, became unbalanced when too many passengers moved to one side, police told the AFP news agency.

Police say 15 people survived and nine bodies have been found so far.

The football team and fans, from Buliisa District, were singing songs and blowing trumpets and whistles while making their way to a Christmas day football match in Hoima District, the BBC reports.

Fishermen have helped authorities with the rescue operation.

At least 20 people were killed on Lake Victoria on Friday, when a boat carrying passengers to Uganda for the Christmas holidays capsized. Ten people were rescued from the lake.