Uganda targets overloading, fake life jackets in new anti-drowning drive

The government has stepped up efforts to curb water-related fatalities through stricter enforcement, mandatory regulations, and community training to address a public health crisis estimated to claim up to 3,000 lives annually.

The national drive includes developing targeted water-safety regulations, conducting community safety workshops, placing warning signs and physical barriers at high-risk water points, and improving marine emergency response times.
Speaking at the Anti-Drowning Media Café organized by the Health Journalists Network in Uganda (HEJNU) in Kampala on September 4, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bashir Siriba, the coordinator of the National Drowning Prevention Programme, outlined the government’s cross-sectoral strategy.

“Longer-term plans include installing warning signs or signage and barriers in water bodies, an intervention being worked on by the Ministry of Works and Transport,” SSP Siriba said. “These could help people easily identify deep waters and no-go zones.”
He added that the Marine Police, operating alongside line ministries including water, works, and labor, is expanding patrols to reduce response times to roughly 20 minutes depending on the location. Police records highlight that adults aged 20 to 29 are particularly vulnerable, often drowning during recreational trips to beach establishments.
Authorities cite operator negligence, alcohol consumption, unseaworthy vessels, and overloading as major drivers of water accidents.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Mansour Isabirye, a safety officer with the Marine Police, noted that passenger non-compliance and improper equipment use worsen the mortality rate.
“Major causes of drowning include negligence of both operators of boats and passengers who tend to just sit on life jackets until they come across enforcement officers, overconsumption of alcohol, unseaworthy boats, and overloading,” SP Isabirye stated, encouraging all water commuters to learn basic survival swimming skills.

The official national burden, outlined in the Drowning Prevention Strategy 2025/26–2029/30, projects between 1,400 and 3,000 annual fatalities. However, experts warn the actual casualty rate is likely higher due to underreporting and open-water deaths where bodies are never recovered.

Civil society groups are stepping in to fill the safety gap. Swim Safe Uganda recently launched “The 3000,” an outreach campaign prioritizing island communities like Buvuma. Mr. Moses Kalanzi, the organization’s executive director, revealed that 1,900 people have already undergone water safety training in partnership with the Marine Police.
Mr. Kalanzi warned the public against buying counterfeit protective gear off the market. “The market has been exploited by many suppliers offering substandard life jackets that can’t save lives,” he cautioned. “People buying them should look out for secure straps, visible colors, appropriate material and size, as well as approved markings by the UNBS before purchase.”

Beyond fatalities, non-fatal drownings leave survivors with long-term disabilities, including brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation. Mr. Otto Businge, a research associate at Makerere University School of Public Health, emphasized that inland hazards like open brick-making pits and uncovered wells pose equal threats. He noted that researchers are currently collaborating with the Ministry of Health to integrate community-level surveillance via Village Health Teams into the District Health Information System (DHIS).

For survivors, the lack of enforceable safety standards leaves lasting scars. Moses Nsubuga, 38, a resident of Buvuma Islands, recalled surviving an April 2007 boat disaster while transporting timber. Strong 9:00 PM winds cut the vessel’s engine, causing it to flood. Lacking cell network coverage to call for emergency help, non-swimmer Nsubuga clung to wreckage overnight, sustaining severe injuries from loose iron sheets and nails before being rescued the following morning.

To prevent similar incidents, marine authorities maintain that boat operators must strictly respect load limits, undergo mandatory licensing, and ensure passengers correctly wear approved flotation devices before setting sail.