A national campaign to raise awareness about drowning in Uganda and strengthen community response to drowning emergencies has been launched by SwimSave in partnership with HEJNU, with the Buvuma Islands identified as the starting point for training community responders.
The campaign, dubbed the 3,000 Campaign, runs for three months, from Aug. 7 to Nov. 7, 2026, and is led by SwimSave to raise awareness about drowning and mobilise support for community-based prevention and response. It was the focus of a media café held on Friday, Sept. 4, where journalists were briefed about the campaign and its objectives.
The campaign aims to raise funds to train community responders in some of Uganda’s highest-risk lakeside communities, beginning with the Buvuma Islands, where residents face daily risks associated with living and working around Lake Victoria.
SwimSave says strengthening the ability of people within these communities to respond quickly to drowning incidents could help save lives, particularly in areas where access to emergency services may be limited.
The three-month campaign will culminate in a national fundraiser in Kampala on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, bringing together stakeholders and supporters to raise resources for the community responder training programme.
The media café by the Health Journalists Network was intended to equip journalists with information about drowning in Uganda and encourage sustained public discussion about prevention, community preparedness and the need for investment in lifesaving skills in high-risk communities.
With thousands of Ugandans living, working and travelling around the country’s lakes and waterways, campaign organisers say drowning should be treated not only as an individual tragedy but also as a public health and community safety concern.
The campaign will use the three-month period to build public awareness and support before the November fundraiser, with the ultimate goal of equipping more people in vulnerable lakeside communities with the skills and knowledge needed to prevent drowning and respond when emergencies occur.
