The Permanent Secretary, Waiswa Bageya, has inspected the newly completed Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mwanza, Tanzania, marking a significant milestone in enhancing maritime safety in East Africa.
This state-of-the-art centre is part of the Multinational Lake Victoria Maritime Communications & Transport Project, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
"This is a transformative step for inland water transport in East Africa," said an official from the technical team, highlighting the centre's potential to significantly reduce response times and prevent maritime disasters on Lake Victoria.
The MRCC will serve as the lake's rescue nerve-centre, connecting with the Entebbe Rescue Coordination Centre and other Search & Rescue Centres across Uganda's inland waters.
This modern, regional safety system aims to speed up emergency response, strengthen cross-border coordination, and protect millions of people working and traveling on East Africa's great lakes.
Lake Victoria, shared by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, has long been plagued by maritime accidents due to poor communication infrastructure and limited rescue capacity. The MRCC is expected to address these challenges, saving lives and promoting sustainable economic activity around the lake.
