By Ezaruku Draku Franklin

The Lake Victoria Basin Commission together with government of Uganda have started constructing rescue centres across the lake to save lives as boat accidents continue to claim lives of travelers.

The move comes at a time when 17 people were confirmed dead and several other still missing after the latest accident on the lake. Officials from the Lake Victoria Basin Commission who over the weekend donated assortment of items including life jackets and food stuff to the families of the victims said the rescue centres will make it easier to respond to emergencies on the lake.

Dr Masinde Bwire, the Executive Director of Lake Victoria Basin Commission said the commission which is a coordinating entity for East African community partner states is keen in providing safe and secure water transportation in Lake Victoria.

He said so far, the commission has spent Shs17 billion towards the improvement of maritime safety on various projects on the Ugandan side of the lake. Out of this total figure, he said USD1.3M (Shs4.8billion) has been allocated for the construction of Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Entebbe while another USD1.45M Shs5.4billion) has been spent on the construction of fisheries training institute in the same area.

He said this amount is part of USD28 Million (Shs103.9billion) that was contributed by the East African community partner states in collaboration with other development partners.

“We have also purchased a fast rescue boat and one firefighting boat at a cost of USD1.32M (Shs5billion). Aids to navigation equipment and Buoys have been installed in Lake Kyoga, Lake Albert and Lake Victoria at a cost of USD1.6M (Shs6billion),” he said.

Dr Bwire said another USD400,000 (Shs1.5 billion) has also been spent in the purchase of Ambulance boat while a total of nine search and rescue centers (SAR) are under construction at a cost of Shs2.2 billion.

“Currently, the Commission is coordinating the Multinational Lake Victoria Maritime Communications and Transport (MLVMCT) project aimed at improving safety and security in the Lake. Upon completion in December 2024, the MLVMCT project will provide Lake Victoria with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers (MRCCs) supported by SAR centers spread along the shoreline and equipped with fast rescue boats and medical facility boats.

He said other measures that are being undertaken by the Partner States, EAC Secretariat, and LVBC Secretariat aimed at improving SAR services on Lake Victoria include, effective implementation of the Lake Victoria Transport Act 2007.

Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, the minister of works and transport said the rescue centres will go a long way in responding to emergencies on the water bodies. He thanked the commission for the work so far done and promised government support to save lives.

“We have one which under construction at Kazi, we shall have another one at Nsonzi and another one at Masese landing site. Masese will handle Kigulu and all those islands, Nsonzi will be able to cater for Kalangala and Mazinga and Kazi will be able to cater for anything between Kome and these other islands.

He warned travelers on the lake traveling at night, which he said is not only risky, but also makes it difficult for the rescue team to respond when emergencies happen during such night hours. Gen Katumba also asked Ugandans to heed to the warnings by the ministry and the meteorological authority that issues weather forecasts.

“Please heed to the warnings we give you. Remember in June we warned you that the lake is going to be very rough between June and August, please limit your travel and the best time to travel is during the day. Don’t travel at night because when you get accident at night, it even becomes very difficult for the rescue team to respond,” he said.

Gen Katumba said those who are caught in emergency situations on the lake should call the emergency response number, which he said will connect such people with distress calls directly to the marine units that are based at Entebbe.

I have always shared the emergency rescue number and I will repeated it now. The number is 110. Please you call that number when you are in danger and it will connect you to the marine police and UPDF marine to rescue you on the waters,” he said.

Donations

The commission also donated assortment of food items to the families of the victims and forty approved SOLAS life jackets to be distributed to various boat users in Wakiso district, which Dr Bwire said can keep someone a float for up to 24 hours as rescue team searches the lakes.

“It is imperative to note that wearing a life jacket is important for a variety of reasons. The life jacket can easily save your life if rough weather or high winds send you into water. It also helps the boat user or the passenger to stay afloat and prevent drowning,” he said.

Recent Lake Victoria accidents

Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa with a surface area of 70,000sq km has witnessed a string of boat accidents over the years, with majority of them attributed to overloading, poor weather conditions and boats in dangerous mechanical conditions.

In November 2018, at least 32 people died after boat carrying people who were on merrymaking trip sank on Lake Victoria during bad weather. The boat, according to police had more than 90 merrymakers on board.

In September the same year, hundreds of passengers died after MV Nyerere passenger ferry sank on the Tanzanian side of the lake.

While earlier in June the same year, the Ugandan police officials confirmed the death of at least 10 people in a boat accident on Lake Victoria, while 40 were rescued from the capsized boat.

In July this year, two boat accidents capsized, with the first incident involving a boat traveling from Kasi islands to Katosi in Mukono district with  an unidentified woman, a man, and a load of foodstuff. Police attributed the accident to overloading and bad weather conditions. The woman drowned, while the man was rescued by fishmongers.

In the second incident, a transport boat heading from Kiseba islands to Katosi in Mukono, carrying 11 people and cargo consisting of 100 bags of charcoal, 40 bags of silver fish, and personal belongings also capsised in between Jana and Kimmi. Six people were rescued by another transport boat, while five people remained missing.

Police at the time said the primary causes of both accidents were determined to be overloading and adverse weather conditions.