Jovia, a 30-year-old resident of an island in Mayuge, lost her two-month-old baby when a locally made boat capsized as she attempted to reach a medical facility on the mainland. Two years later, when her second child fell ill with severe vomiting, fear of another boat tragedy led her to seek alternative treatments on the island—tragically, the child did not survive.
Her heartbreaking story is featured in The Unpredictable Waters, a documentary led by journalist Canary Mugume and produced in collaboration with youth rights and empowerment charity Reach a Hand Uganda. The documentary sheds light on drowning as a major yet often overlooked cause of death and trauma in Uganda.
The project aims to raise awareness about safety issues in water transport and other marine-related activities, such as fishing and swimming, across lakes, rivers, ponds, and pools. Emmanuel Balinda, Country Manager for Reach a Hand Uganda, emphasized the importance of equipping fishermen and lakeside communities with basic survival skills, including safe swimming techniques.
“Water transport and related activities are essential for Uganda and local communities, but they must be made safe,” Balinda said.
Enid Mbabazi, Board Chairperson of Reach a Hand Uganda, noted that drowning disproportionately affects young people, with Uganda recording an estimated 3,000 cases annually. However, many incidents go unreported. She called for a national discussion on strengthening safety measures.
The initiative, supported by the Ministries of Water and Environment and Works and Transport, is part of efforts to sensitize the public ahead of the launch of Uganda’s National Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Strategy in March. Minister of State for Water Aisha Sekindi stated that the strategy seeks to reduce drowning incidents and improve policies regulating water activities.
A statement read on her behalf by Christopher Tumusiime, Commissioner for Water Utility Regulation, highlighted the need for stronger policies and collaboration among relevant agencies to enhance water safety. While Uganda has laws regulating water transport, enforcement remains a challenge. For instance, the Inland Water Navigation Act cannot yet be implemented due to a lack of necessary regulations.
The Ministry of Works and Transport estimates that five million people use government ferries annually, underscoring the importance of safe navigation. Charles Ruzigye, Assistant Commissioner for Safety Navigation, revealed that new regulations should be in place by the end of the year.
The documentary also exposes the dangers of counterfeit life jackets. Mugume recounted how boat operators informed them that the life jackets they were wearing were fake. Reports indicate that some bodies recovered from drowning incidents were found wearing substandard life jackets, highlighting the urgent need for enforcement.
Ruzigye stressed that for a boat to set sail, it must be certified, inspected, and equipped with ISO-certified life jackets. He called for intensified enforcement and public sensitization on water safety.
The first-ever Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention revealed that while global drowning fatalities declined by 38% between 2000 and 2021, the crisis remains severe, with over 300,000 deaths recorded in 2021. Africa has the highest rates of lakeside drowning.
Dr. Frederick Oporia, Head of the Trauma, Injuries, and Disability (TRIAD) Unit at Makerere University School of Public Health, stated that Uganda leads in drowning cases. Among children aged one to four, drowning is the fourth leading cause of death, while for those aged five to 14, it ranks third. Across the African region, drowning is the sixth leading cause of death in children aged five to 14.
Dr. Oporia noted that most drowning cases go unreported unless they involve high-profile individuals. He cited the MV Templar disaster on Lake Victoria in 2018 as an example of how public awareness spikes only after major tragedies.
As Uganda moves toward implementing its National Water Safety Strategy, stakeholders emphasize the need for better enforcement, community education, and stricter regulation of water transport to prevent further loss of life.
Also read about drowning in Uganda here: https://globalhealthnow.org/2024-10/push-prevent-drownings-uganda