Ezaruku Draku Franklin

A new ultra-modern Maritime Training facility at the Fisheries Training Institute Entebbe is nearing completion and is expected to be opened in December this year.

 At a cost $1.45 Million (Shs5.4 billion) with funds from African Development Bank (AfDB), the new institute, according to Lake Victoria Basin Commission will be the first to be built to cater for “able bodied men and women” in the EAC region and the rest of the world planning to operate or operating vessels in both all navigable inland water bodies and the oceans.

“The institution has been built in accordance to regulations set for establishment of institutions under the international convention on Standard of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers, a statement from the Lake Victoria Basin Commission says.

Lake Victoria Basin Commission Executive Secretary Dr Masinde Bwire pointed out that the institute will provide professional training that will help in improving Maritime safety. He said the facility will also assist in training boat operators, fishermen and sea men to attain qualifications for marine education.

 “This new institute will provide our boat operators, Sea men and also fishermen with much needed skills that will also go a long way to improve on maritime safety within our lake,” he said.

Mr Ategeka Henry, the Lake Victoria Basin Commission Regional Project Coordinator for the project said the institute will be a key milestone to improving safety in the Maritime sector in the East African Community.

“This will be a great opportunity for members of the EAC states and even in the diaspora to benefit from the training offered in this ultra-modern facility”

He said the institute based in Entebbe, Wakiso District is equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities like a Marine training swimming pool, Bridge Simulator (Maritime Navigation and Engineering training), equipped training lab for students, and medical first Aid facility.

The scope of the contract also included full renovations of the buildings, construction of a community jetty, a slipway with capacity of (5-10ton) vessels and a boat maintenance workshop for repairing vessels.

“Marine officers, boat operators, fishermen and young marine engineers within the East African partner states and the rest of the world will benefit from the planned maritime training courses,” he said.

The completion of the marine training unit comes at a time when the EAC states are struggling with rampant accidents on the lakes across the region.

The Commission together with government of Uganda is already constructing rescue centres across the lake in different parts.

In August this year, at least 17 people were confirmed dead and several other went missing after and overloaded boat capsized into the lake.

Dr Bwire, at the time 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) on the construction of fisheries training institute in the same area.

The rescue centres are being constructed at Kazi, Nsonzi and Masese landing site landing sites.  Masese will handle Kigulu and the islands around, Nsonzi will cater for Kalangala and Mazinga and Kazi will cater for Kome and other islands.