The Ugandan government is actively working to enhance water safety by establishing nine Search and Rescue (SAR) centers across major lakes, including Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, and Lake Kyoga, with the initiative to respond to alarming drowning statistics.

The commissioner in charge of Maritain administration at the Ministry of Water and Transport, Robert Ntambi, said that the Search and Rescue centers need to be equipped to respond to the water accidents and to prevent drowning cases.

Ntambi made this submission on December 3, 2024, at the Kampala Serena Hotel, in an ongoing stakeholders meeting on drowning prevention, organized by a global health advocacy incubator for rescue centers.

He noted that recent tragic events, such as a boat accident that resulted in 17 fatalities, have underscored the urgent need for improved maritime safety measures on the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), in collaboration with the Ugandan government, which has committed significant resources to construct these rescue centers.

“There is a government commitment to put in place important resources into the construction of rescue centers,” Ntambi said.

The commissioner added that the nine SAR centers being constructed are at strategic locations to facilitate quick responses to emergencies on water and accidents across the country as a means to prevent death and losing victims in water.

The initiative is part of a broader investment of USD 28 million (over UGX 103 billion) being contributed by East African Community partner states and other development partners. The funding that will not only cover the construction of SAR centers but also the acquisition of rescue boats and navigation equipment.

So far, UGX 17 billion (approximately USD 4.8 million) has been allocated for various maritime safety projects, including the construction of a Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Entebbe.

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According to the study carried out by Makerere University Institute of Public Health between 2016 and 2018, approximately 70% of drowning incidents occur in lakeside districts around Uganda, with an estimated 287 cases reported and 3,500 cases reported annually.

The government emphasized the importance of having designated emergency response numbers, such as 110, which connects individuals in distress directly to marine police and rescue units across all lakeside parts in the country.

The Minister of Works and Transport, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, expressed strong support for the initiative, stating that these centers will significantly improve emergency response capabilities on water bodies and warned travelers against nighttime boating due to increased risks and difficulties in rescue operations during such times.

“It’s risky to travel at night because it’s harder for a rescue team to reach the scenes where accidents occur,” Katumba said.

The establishment of these SAR centers reflects a proactive approach by the Ugandan government to combat drowning incidents and enhance overall safety for lake or water users.