NATIONAL | Uganda is grappling with a silent crisis of drowning fatalities, prompting urgent intervention from stakeholders.
A new programme spearheaded by Reach A Hand Uganda, in collaboration with the Makerere School of Public Health, Design Without Borders, and the Ministry of Water and Environment, aims to combat these alarming statistics through education, policy reform, and community engagement.
The initiative seeks to equip communities—particularly youth and fishermen—with lifesaving skills and tools to curb water-related deaths.
Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death in the world, with the highest drowning rates among children aged between one and four years, followed by children 5–9 years.
Global incident statistics show that males are especially at risk of drowning, with twice the overall mortality rate of females.
For instance, the Royal Life Saving Australia, an agency that works to prevent drowning and facilitate healthy, active lifestyles by equipping all Australians with water safety skills, this month published their 10-year national study on drowning deaths.
The report revealed that 83% of children who drowned were not being directly supervised by an adult, 75% of drownings were due to an unintentional fall into water, while a whopping 91% occurred in a residential backyard pool.
Australia might be more than 11,000 kilometres and some 32 hours away from Uganda, but the drowning circumstances are not much different.
However, drowning is not considered a public health issue, with many governments - including Uganda - only factoring it as an incident.
Harrowing Statistics
Mr Benon Muhindo, acting country director of Reach A Hand Uganda, emphasized the urgency of the initiative during its launch.
“We are deeply concerned about the increasing reports of drowning, particularly among young people. This is not just a statistic; these are lives lost," Mr Muhindo said.
"The government’s intervention is crucial, but the role of partners cannot be overstated."
The programme’s cornerstone is a standardized curriculum, currently under development, focusing on swimming and water safety education.
Mr Muhindo explained that the curriculum, led by the Ministry of Water and Environment in partnership with the National Curriculum Development Center, will ensure consistency and effectiveness.
Dr Fredrick Oporia, of Makerere School of Public Health, provided a sobering perspective: “By the end of today, nine people will have drowned in Uganda, and many of these cases will not be documented.”
He stressed the critical role of survival swimming training and life jacket use. However, he acknowledged the inconsistency in the quality of life jackets available locally.
“Even a poor-quality life jacket that keeps someone afloat for an hour is better than nothing,” Dr Oporia said, urging for their use alongside efforts to improve quality standards.
Districts such as Mayuge, Masaka, and Rakai bear the brunt of this crisis.
In Mayuge, more than 24 drowning deaths occur per 100,000 people annually, starkly contrasting countries with rates as low as 0.01 per 100,000.
“This burden is too high. Action should have been taken yesterday, but with partners like Reach A Hand Uganda, we are moving in the right direction,” Dr Oporia said.
Barriers to Safety
High taxation on life-saving equipment, such as life jackets, was identified as a significant barrier. Humphrey Nabimanya, chief executive of Reach A Hand Uganda, advocated for policy reforms to make such equipment more affordable.
“Life jackets are expensive, allowing counterfeit products to flood the market. We need the government to reconsider taxation policies to make quality safety equipment accessible to all,” Nabimanya stated.
He also highlighted the broader implications, particularly for students in island communities who rely on water transport to reach schools.
“With zero taxation, life jackets will become affordable for everyone—from fishermen to students. It’s about protecting lives across all communities, especially around lakes and islands,” he added.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Bruno Sandy, the zonal commander of Police Marines for Victoria East, emphasized the scope of the problem.
“Uganda is 20% water, and we have numerous lakes, rivers, and dams where drowning incidents occur. This is not just a lakeside issue; it happens in dams and even swimming pools,” Mr Sandy said.
Police data indicates that districts bordering water bodies lose about 436 lives annually to drowning, while inland districts account for 201 deaths.
According to the 2023 Police Annual Crime Report, at least 138 people drowned in Uganda's water bodies between January and December 2023.
The figure was more than 65% of the total of all incidents handled by the Maritime Police.
Overall, 243 bodies were recovered from water bodies around the country during the same period, while 323 persons were rescued.
The figures do not include for incidents in swimming pools, bathtubs and other water-holding apparatus or even floods - suggesting a much higher figure.
Mr Sandy urged communities to take proactive measures, stressing the importance of training in using life jackets and developing survival skills.
To enhance emergency response, rescue centers are under construction in high-risk areas like Victoria East.
Mr Bruno noted that these centers, though not yet operational, will significantly improve emergency response times.
This drowning prevention program is a critical step toward reducing fatalities through education, policy advocacy, and community involvement.
Stakeholders hope the initiative will not only address the immediate crisis but also create long-term systemic change.
As the programme gains traction, it aims to ensure that no more lives are lost to preventable drowning incidents, building safer and more resilient communities across Uganda.