As Uganda joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25, renewed attention is being drawn to the impact of drowning on the country’s fishing communities.
Available national data indicates that nearly half of recorded drowning deaths in Uganda occur among people living and working in fishing communities.
For many fishers, venturing onto the water is not a choice but a livelihood that supports families, pays school fees and sustains entire communities.
To mark the day, Design Without Borders Africa, in partnership with the Marine Police Unit under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, held a community sensitisation event at Kigungu Landing Site.
The engagement focused on practical water safety measures, including basic first aid for drowning emergencies and the importance of using properly certified life jackets.
The activity forms part of wider efforts to raise awareness about drowning as a preventable public health issue while promoting safer practices among communities that depend on Uganda’s water bodies for survival.
During the discussions, members of the fishing community highlighted several challenges affecting water safety.
Many said quality life jackets remain unaffordable, while cheaper alternatives often fail to meet recognised safety standards.
Participants also identified limited swimming skills and inadequate access to reliable weather information as factors increasing risks for people working on the water.
The community engagement is part of the Enhancing Fisherfolk Safety Project, a multi-partner initiative supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
The project brings together Design Without Borders Africa, Reach A Hand Uganda, the Global Health Advocacy Incubator and Makerere University School of Public Health to advance evidence-based approaches to drowning prevention in Uganda.
A key component of the initiative is the use of human-centred design, which places fishing communities at the centre of developing practical solutions.
Through continuous engagement, fishers participate in designing, testing and improving locally manufacturable flotation devices and weather information systems suited to their daily experiences.
“By using the human-centred design approach, we are keen on designing together with the end-users themselves. We believe that fishers should have greater ownership in finding solutions to the drowning challenge,” said Nancy Akera, Design Researcher at Design Without Borders Africa.
She added that fishers at Kigungu Landing Site have played an important role in testing and refining prototypes, with their experiences helping shape the solutions being developed.
Officials from the Marine Police Unit stressed the importance of equipping communities with basic first aid skills, noting that quick response during water emergencies can save lives.
They encouraged not only fishers but also women, young people and other communities living near water bodies to acquire lifesaving knowledge.
The event also brought together representatives from the Department of Meteorological Services under the Ministry of Water and Environment and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, highlighting the need for a coordinated approach to drowning prevention.
This year’s World Drowning Prevention Day is being observed under the theme “United to Turn the Tide on Drowning,” emphasising that reducing drowning deaths requires collaboration among governments, communities, researchers, development partners and the private sector.
While drowning remains one of the world’s overlooked public health challenges, initiatives that combine community participation, local innovation and public awareness are helping strengthen water safety and resilience among Uganda’s fishing communities.
