Passenger ferry on Lake Victoria?

[LauraP1]

I read in the Lonely Planet that there are services from BUkoba to Mwanza in Tanzania on MV Victoria, 3 times a week. HOwever on another page in their guide book it says there is no longer a proper passenger service on Lake Victoria. Can anyone please advise on the correct status? Is there a ferry operator? many thanks.

[jno]

No idea (though I think there was one years ago) - but that's the sort of thing I'd phone up Lonely Planet and ask them about.

Don't wear blue (attracts the tsetse flies).

[buildersmate]

The existence of this tour suggests that the ferry trip does still run.
http://www.kiroyerato...st_Africa_21_days.htm
This is only a partial answer, but you (or someone else with more time) may be able to follow it up from here.
On another search site I found the following info:
MVs operated by the Tanzanians - MV Umoja
Operated by the Ugandans - MV Pamba, Kaawa, Kabalega (3 ferries)
Some of these may be commercial ferries that also take passengers.
What is clear is that this lake has a pretty dreadful safety record for ferry operators in general, with the last major accident being in 2006.