New strategy introduced to prevent pool drowning in Uganda
Moses Kalanzi, a Swim Safe instructor, says the programme’s goals is equipping guards to analyse risks, rescue victims and provide pre-hospital care for all swimmers.
A trainee retrieving a near-drowned victim from the swimming pool to provide first aid to him. (Photos by Samuel Nkuba)
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A drowning incident at a primary school pool in Kalangala district on April 18, 2022, has inspired a new pool safety strategy in Uganda.
The tragedy, which claimed a teacher’s life, stemmed from a lapse: The pool attendant was absent, deployed elsewhere during the incident. This preventable loss has inspired non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and policymakers to roll out a lifeguard certification programme to curb drowning.
A tragic turn at a school pool
The incident unfolded during a mid-morning swim at a Kalangala Primary School, where teachers had taken a break from festive celebrations. Unbeknownst to them, the pool’s designated attendant was unavailable, leaving swimmers unsupervised, and a teacher drowned.
The statistics
Globally, drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death, claiming an estimated 322,000 lives annually, according to a 2020 Makerere University report.
In Uganda, children under 10 account for 20% of drowning cases, though precise data on pool-related incidents remains scarce due to inconsistent reporting.
“The root cause is often untrained lifeguards and inadequate supervision,” Max Mbabazi, the director of Swim Safe Uganda, says.
“Pool drownings often occur because attendants lack situational awareness and lifesaving skills.”
Lifeguards' certification
To address this, Swim Safe Uganda and Uganda Aquatics say they have launched a National Lifeguard Training Programme (NLTP). A recent three-day workshop in Mukono certified 28 trainees in lifeguarding and first aid.
Moses Kalanzi, a Swim Safe instructor, says the programme’s goals is equipping guards to analyse risks, rescue victims and provide pre-hospital care for all swimmers.
Key lessons from the field
Uganda Aquatics’ vice-president Peter Simon Mugisha warns lifeguards against complacency.
“Avoid working under the influence of alcohol. Sobriety and teamwork are critical. Always have a partner on duty.”
Sophia Okwor, a certified lifeguard in Mukono district, narrated a near-fatal incident.
“Four children jumped into a pool without proper technique. One went unconscious. I couldn’t act alone, but with the bystanders’ help, we rushed him to the hospital. This training now gives me the skills to handle such crises independently.”