Construction of the Maritime Training Centre in Uganda is nearing completion.

When completed, the state-of-the-art facility at the Fisheries Training Institute in Entebbe is to conduct maritime safety and survey training skills for all water transport users.

The $.1.45 million facility financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) targets to train and build capacity for vessel operators in both navigable water bodies and the oceans. 

  
The facility will not only benefit Uganda as a country but also the entire East African Community  (EAC) member states.

The recent Annual Integrated Transport Infrastructure and Services (ITIS) program review workshop at Speke Resort Resort Munyonyo for the previous financial year was fair progress in the maritime industry.
However, Musa Ecweru the state minister for works called for more allocation funding for water transport.

The maritime administration department in the Ministry of Works and Transport had identified representation from Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) the  Uganda Police and the Private sector to be trained at the Maritime training facility.

This training will enhance safe water transport on all national navigable waters with acquired professional skills.

Henry Ategeka, the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) Maritime project coordinator said the institute which is set to be completed in December marks a key milestone in improving safety in the maritime sector within the EAC.

The facility, the first of its kind in the region comes with state-of-the-art facilities among them a marine training swimming pool, bridge simulator for marine navigation and engineering training, equipped laboratories, and a medical first aid facility.

Other amenities include a community jetty, a slipway with a capacity of 5-10 tonne vessels, and a boat maintenance workshop for repairing vessels.

"The facility will provide local boat builders, seamen, and fishermen with much-needed skills that will go a long way to improve maritime safety within Lake Victoria and our inland water bodies," he said.