[3] Kaawa managed to return to port but a few hours after the collision Kabalega sank about 8 nautical miles (15 km) southeast of the Ssese Islands.

[3] URC's Chairman of Governors Paul Etiang admitted that marine insurance for Kaawa, and Kabalega and their sister ship MV Pemba had expired in December 2004 and not been renewed.

[5] Kaliisa also told the committee that three years before the collision he had been appointed as third officer despite being only a sailor with no marine training or qualifications.

[5] However, as master, Ocaya would have been responsible both for Kaawa sailing in darkness without navigation lights, without one of her radars, and with a third officer who had none of the necessary qualifications.

A commission of inquiry attributed the collision to inadequately trained crew on the bridges of both ferries and a lack of communication equipment.