Uganda launches campaign to reduce drowning deaths by 25 percent

SwimSafe-Uganda and the National Drowning Prevention Programme are launching a campaign in Uganda to provide water safety training and improve access to life jackets.

Instructors in Kampala demonstrated how people can stay afloat using life jackets or improvised flotation devices made from plastic bottles, jerrycans, and wood. Experts taught the Heat Escape Lessening Position, a technique where people keep their bodies compact to minimize heat loss. They also advised passengers to remain calm and avoid swimming aimlessly in open water.

To ensure safety during rescues, the campaign urged people to use non-contact methods like throwing ropes or poles instead of jumping into the water. The initiative includes a proposed life-jacket loaner scheme for island communities, such as the nine islands of Buvuma Island. This plan would establish collection points where boat operators can borrow life jackets for passengers and leave them at different landing sites.

This system aims to increase safety for schoolchildren and other travelers who rely on boats but may not own personal safety equipment. The government is currently finalizing a national strategy to reduce drowning deaths by 25 percent over the next five years. While the United Nations recommends a 15-minute emergency response time, officials noted that Uganda's geography can make reaching victims quickly difficult.

These efforts follow incidents like the Kagadi boat accident, where 11 people died out of an estimated 28 passengers on a single vessel.