Drowning in Uganda: Research Findings, Risks and Prevention

Understanding the scale of drowning is an essential step towards preventing avoidable deaths and building safer communities around Uganda’s waters.

Uganda’s lakes, rivers, wetlands and other water bodies support transport, fishing, recreation and livelihoods. However, these environments also expose people to drowning risks. Understanding who is affected, where incidents occur and why existing records may not capture the full problem is essential to developing effective prevention strategies.

A national study examining drowning incidents in Uganda between January 2016 and June 2018 investigated official records and gathered additional information from affected communities. Its findings revealed important gaps in drowning reporting and highlighted opportunities for stronger prevention.

1. What Did the Research Find?

The research was conducted in two phases, covering administrative records from 60 districts and more detailed community investigations in 14 selected districts.

During the community investigation phase, researchers identified 2,066 drowning cases, including 1,332 deaths and 734 non-fatal incidents.

These findings demonstrated that drowning affects both people who lose their lives and survivors who may require emergency assistance and medical care.

2. Drowning Is Under-Reported

One of the most significant findings was the gap between official records and cases identified through community investigations.

In the 14 districts examined in both phases, community investigations identified 3.2 times as many drowning deaths as were recorded in district-level administrative sources. For non-fatal drowning, the number identified was 13.6 times the number recorded.

This suggests that official records alone may substantially underestimate the burden of drowning.

Improving reporting systems is therefore important for identifying high-risk locations, directing prevention resources and evaluating whether interventions are making a difference.

3. Who Is Most at Risk?

The study found that drowning disproportionately affected males and young adults. Many incidents were associated with activities involving lakes, rivers, boats and livelihoods connected to water.

Frequent drowning locations differed by age group and setting. Lakes and rivers were important locations for adults, while ditches and pits presented risks to children.

These findings underline the importance of prevention measures tailored to different groups rather than relying on a single approach for every community.

4. Risks in Lakeside Communities

Communities living and working near lakes face particular challenges because water is part of everyday life.

Fishing, boating and water transport can expose people to hazards, especially when boats are unsafe, life jackets are unavailable or not worn, weather conditions are dangerous, or emergency assistance is limited.

The research also identified drowning in non-lakeside districts, showing that prevention efforts must address rivers, pits, ditches and other hazardous water environments as well as major lakes.

5. What Can Be Done to Prevent Drowning?

The research highlighted several areas for action:

Safer boats and water transport

Improve compliance with boating safety requirements.
Promote the availability and correct use of life jackets.
Improve access to weather information and safety warnings.
Encourage the use of seaworthy boats suitable for their intended activities.

Water safety education

Increase public awareness of drowning risks.
Teach practical water safety, swimming and self-rescue skills.
Strengthen safety education for children, families and communities living near water.

Community rescue and emergency response

Strengthen community capacity to recognise emergencies and summon assistance.
Promote safe rescue practices and appropriate first aid and resuscitation training.
Improve coordination between communities and emergency services.

Safer environments and better reporting

Reduce children’s unsupervised access to hazardous water locations.
Address dangerous pits, ditches and unprotected water sources.
Improve the collection, recording and sharing of drowning data.

6. The Role of Great Lakes Life Saving Society

Great Lakes Life Saving Society (GLLSS) works to strengthen water safety, lifesaving, first aid and emergency preparedness in Uganda.

Our programmes promote practical knowledge and skills through swimming and self-rescue education, community water safety, community-based water rescue, lifeguard training, first aid and CPR.

We believe drowning prevention requires sustained public awareness, practical training, safer water practices and cooperation among communities, schools, businesses and public institutions.

Research findings can help guide these efforts towards the risks and needs of different communities.

Conclusion: Turning Evidence into Action

Drowning is preventable, but effective prevention requires reliable information, coordinated action and practical interventions that reflect local conditions.

Uganda needs continued efforts to improve drowning surveillance, promote safer water transport, expand water safety education and strengthen emergency preparedness.

Great Lakes Life Saving Society remains committed to contributing to these efforts and supporting safer communities around Uganda’s waters.

Learn more about our work: https://gllss.org

Research source: Understanding and Preventing Drowning in Uganda — Executive Summary

Research note: The study examined incidents from January 2016 to June 2018. Its findings describe historical data and should not be interpreted as current annual statistics. The researchers’ national drowning-rate estimate was based on a selected sample of districts and should be interpreted with caution.