Tragedy struck Kiyindi Landing Site in Buikwe District on Monday, December 16, 2024, when two individuals drowned at the shores of Lake Victoria in Zzinga Cell, Kelement Zone, Kiyindi Town Council.
The incident occurred around 12pm as the victims, along with a 10-year-old boy, Jothan Gidudu, went to the lakeshore to wash a carpet.
According to reports, one of the victims slipped into the water, and the other drowned while attempting to save him.
The deceased have been identified as Julius Kiyingi, alias Caesar, a 21-year-old resident of Nakawuma Cell, and Tuyishime Prince, a 14-year-old resident of the same area.
Police spokesperson Hellen Butoto of the Ssezibwa Region confirmed the incident, stating that the bodies had been recovered and investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances.
Butoto urged residents to exercise caution around water bodies, particularly during the rainy season when surfaces are slippery and hazardous.
This unfortunate event highlights the risks associated with lake activities, with authorities continuing to appeal for vigilance and adherence to safety measures near water sources.
Drowning burden
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.
Last week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) published its first-ever report on drowning prevention, revealing a 38% reduction in the global drowning death rate since 2000.
Despite this progress, drowning remains a significant public health issue, with over 300,000 deaths recorded in 2021—equivalent to more than 30 fatalities every hour.
The report highlighted that children and young people are disproportionately affected, with almost half of all drowning deaths occurring among individuals under 29 years old.
A quarter of the victims are children under 5 years, especially those left unsupervised near water.
"The significant decline in drowning deaths since 2000 is great news and proof that the simple, practical interventions WHO recommends work," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
"Still, every drowning death is one too many, and millions of people remain at risk. This report contains crucial data for policy-making and recommendations for urgent action to save lives."
The report also highlights disparities in progress across regions. While the WHO European Region saw a 68% reduction in drowning deaths between 2000 and 2021, the WHO African Region recorded a decline of only 3% and has the highest drowning death rate globally, with 5.6 deaths per 100,000 people.
These differences are partly attributed to varying levels of national commitment. In the African Region, only 15% of countries have a national drowning prevention strategy, compared to 45% in the European Region.
The WHO report underscores the need for stronger global efforts, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where 90% of drowning deaths occur.
It calls for urgent implementation of evidence-based strategies to protect vulnerable populations and reduce preventable deaths.
More than 7.2 million people, primarily children, could die from drowning by 2050 if current trends persist. WHO emphasizes that most of these deaths are preventable through practical, community-based interventions.
“Drowning continues to be a major public health issue, but progress is possible, particularly if governments work with strong partners at the local level,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Bloomberg highlighted the success of collaborative efforts in reducing drowning deaths and encouraged countries to adopt WHO recommendations.
WHO’s report outlines clear, evidence-based actions to reduce drowning risks:
- Installing barriers to restrict child access to water.
- Creating safe spaces away from water for preschool children.
- Teaching school-aged children swimming, water safety, and rescue skills.
- Training individuals in rescue and resuscitation techniques.
- Increasing public awareness of drowning risks.
While the adoption of these measures varies globally, countries that implement them effectively have seen significant reductions in drowning deaths, WHO said in its report.
The WHO urges nations to prioritise drowning prevention strategies, highlighting that proactive measures could prevent millions of unnecessary deaths and protect vulnerable populations worldwide.
Encouragingly, 73% of countries have established search and rescue services, and an equal percentage implement community-based flood risk mitigation programs.
However, other critical interventions are far less common. For instance, only 33% of countries offer national programmes to train bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation.
The report also said just 22% of nations integrate swimming and water safety training into school curricula.