The government has raised alarm over the country's growing drowning crisis, revealing that at least 3,000 lives are lost annually to drowning--most of them silently, and often preventably.
As Uganda joins the rest of the world to mark World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25, authorities have unveiled a National Drowning Prevention Strategic Plan aimed at streamlining efforts to reduce fatalities and improve water safety across the country.
This year's global theme, "Anyone can drown, no one should," underscores the urgent need for inclusive, community-led interventions to combat what the World Health Organization (WHO) calls a neglected public health issue.
Globally, over 236,000 people die from drowning every year, with the highest rates occurring in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Africa and Southeast Asia.
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Children, adolescents, and people whose livelihoods are linked to water--such as fishers and boat operators--are among the most vulnerable.
Charles Ruzigye, assistant commissioner in the Ministry's Maritime Department, announced the initiative during World Drowning Prevention Week, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the issue.
He noted that drowning is not only underreported but also misunderstood as a random or divine event, rather than a serious public health threat.
"This week is not just for awareness. It's a time to remember the lives lost and update the country on what interventions are being taken. Drowning cuts across many sectors. We need all hands-on deck from government and civil society to communities and development partners," Ruzigye said.
The strategic plan will serve as a national framework to guide and harmonize drowning prevention efforts.
It outlines the creation of an institutional structure for a national program, development of clear intervention guidelines, mechanisms for resource mobilization, and frameworks for inter-sectoral coordination.
The government's increased attention to drowning followed studies by Makerere University and the Public Health Institute, which led to its recognition as a national health concern.
The Office of the Prime Minister has since designated the Ministry of Works and Transport as the lead coordinating agency for national drowning prevention efforts.
Dr. Fredrick Oporiah, head of the Trauma, Injury and Disability Unit at Makerere University School of Public Health, has been vocal in highlighting the severity of the crisis.
He described the deaths as avoidable and deeply connected to everyday livelihoods.
He said the majority of victims drown while working, particularly in fishing and small-scale water transport, and are often not wearing life jackets.
"Over 95 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets," Dr. Oporiah revealed, attributing the problem to widespread mistrust in substandard gear.
A separate study by the university found that many life jackets sold locally failed to meet safety standards, with most sinking in under six hours, far below the recommended 72.
In addition to poor equipment, the widespread use of unsafe, poorly built boats often constructed by untrained individuals further exposes communities to risk.
Dr. Oporiah stressed the importance of "survival swimming" skills as a last line of defense, saying anyone can learn to swim and increase their chances of surviving accidents.
He also called for a shift in public perception, urging Ugandans to stop attributing drowning to supernatural forces.
"People say 'the water was hungry,' or 'it was God's will.' But drowning is not an act of God. It is 100 percent preventable," he emphasized.
Dr. Oporiah and his team at Makerere are recommending the introduction of mandatory swimming education, stricter regulation of boats and life jackets, national awareness campaigns, and government funding for water safety initiatives.
He warned that current data collection only captures about 30 percent of incidents, masking the true scale of the crisis.
"If we recorded all cases, Uganda would likely rank among the highest drowning rates in the region," he said.
As part of the national response, Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) has launched a community-based drowning prevention initiative focused on grassroots training. Emmanuel Balinda, RAHU's Drowning Prevention Project Manager, said the organization is targeting high-risk communities with survival swimming education and awareness campaigns.
"We are working under the Ministry's leadership to bring these lifesaving skills closer to vulnerable communities," Balinda said.
"Lack of awareness, poor weather forecasting, and the absence of structured swim programs are putting lives at risk," he added.
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Since May, RAHU has been installing community swimming pools and piloting training programs in targeted areas.
The organization is also part of a technical working group developing a Survival Swimming Program Guide, which will include a training curriculum, instructor manual, implementation guide, and an evaluation framework.
The survival swimming training focuses on two critical skills: the ability to float or tread water for 30 seconds to stay above the surface and breathe, and the ability to swim 25 meters to reach safety in case of an emergency.
"These are skills that can mean the difference between life and death," Balinda said.
He added that broader efforts must include improved weather forecasting and timely information dissemination, especially in fishing and island communities where drownings are most frequent.
As Uganda joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Drowning Prevention Week, stakeholders are urging more institutions, local governments, and families to embrace water safety education and lifesaving training.
The hope is that with collective action, thousands of lives can be saved each year from what remains a largely silent epidemic.
