Uganda is Africa’s Pearl partly because of the numerous water bodies that it is blessed with. However, hidden beneath the calm waters are horrifying stories of thousands of people who have drowned in the same waters. Every year, Uganda records approximately 3,000 cases of drowning according to statistics from the Ministry of Works and Transport. Cumulative data from the Uganda Marine Police Unit supports this, stating that, on average, 300 to 330 water incidents occur annually in Uganda’s water bodies.

For a country where approximately 10% to 11% of its total population are directly or indirectly dependent on the fishing industry for their livelihoods, which translates to over 5 million people, this is simply alarming and unacceptable. Several factors contribute to the rise in these accidents, including overloading, bad weather, and poor vessel maintenance. Even so, nothing stands out more than the lack of clear communication channels to reach search and rescue teams in an accident.

This is despite the fact that the Ministry of Works and Transport, which is mandated to plan, develop, and maintain efficient and effective transport services and infrastructure across water bodies, has gazetted 110 as a toll-free emergency helpline for maritime support in case of an accident. To execute this mandate effectively and reduce accidents on water, the Ministry of Works and Transport signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.

Pursuant to the MOU, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance is tasked with ensuring the ICT infrastructure, in terms of equipment like intercoms, internet, computers, and the Hoduc system, amongst others, is fully fledged and functional at all rescue sites so that communication is simplified in case of an accident on the water bodies.

As part of these noble efforts, the Department of Data Networks at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance went on the ground this first quarter of 2026/2027 to the Maritime Rescue Communications Centre (MRCC) in Entebbe and four Search and Rescue Centres (SARs) in Kaazi, Panyimur, Zengebe and Masese to assess the performance of ICT infrastructure at these sites.
This aligned with the Multinational Lake Victoria Maritime Communication and Transport (MLVMCT) Project, which supports safer maritime transport, improved security, and better communication for Lake Victoria communities.

The Ministry’s Data Networks Engineers repaired, serviced, provided recommendations, and initiated a process to replace some inoperative ICT communication systems and devices. The assessment also covered ICT communication equipment in water vessels, such as the Search and Rescue (SAR) boats used in rescue missions.

Dravule Agrey, a Mariner attached to the Ministry of Works and Transport and based in Entebbe, welcomed the initiative and said that since the ICT equipment was set up, it has enabled them to manage water incidents on Lake Victoria more effectively.

The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance remains committed to ensuring that ICT communication infrastructure is functional and helps avert and mitigate damage when accidents occur on water bodies across Uganda. With functional communication systems, accidents on water bodies are projected to decrease significantly.