At least 26 people are still missing and feared dead after a boat they were traveling early Sunday morning capsized on Lake Albert in western Uganda, a police commander in the region said on Monday.

Marcelino Wanitho, the Midwestern regional police commander told Xinhua by telephone that only 17 survivors have been rescued and seven bodies been recovered including those of four children.

The boat with mainly traders who were transporting merchandise like fish and millet to a major market was travelling on Saturday night from Runga Landing Site in Hoima district to Nebbi district, according to him.

The police estimated that there were around 50 passengers on board, saying the figure put by local media between 80 and 90 could be overstated.

"The search is continuing. However, the hopes of getting some people alive are fading," said Wanitho.

Wanitho said overloading could be the cause of the accident. " We can't determine how many people were on the boat. But it seems it was overloaded."

The accident comes barely two weeks after another boat capsized on Lake Victoria, killing over ten people, in southern part of the country.