Sub-standard life jackets hit market
Dec 27, 2010
Ferry and boat operators at Kasenyi landing site have decried the poor quality of life jackets on the market, adding that this was compromising water transport safety.
By Samuel Balagadde
Ferry and boat operators at Kasenyi landing site have decried the poor quality of life jackets on the market, adding that this was compromising water transport safety.
They also said over 90% of people travelling by water do not use life jackets because they are expensive. “Some of the life jackets are small, while others are of low quality. The Uganda National Bureau of Standards should intervene to protect lives of travellers,†said Mohammed Bogere, a businessman at Kasenyi landing site.
This was during a recent sensitisation training on safety and statutory requirements like licence fees at Kasenyi in Wakiso. The training was conducted by the Transport Licensing Board (TLB) and the Marine Police department.
Winstone Katushabe, the TLB secretary, urged passenger boat operators to ensure that all users have life jackets to improve their safety.
He advised against using passenger boats to carry fish. He also said the quality of boats must be ascertained by experts from the ministry to ensure that they conform to the minimum safety requirements before being issued with operators license.
Michael Walwanga a marine commandant said safety on water is a collective responsibility and called upon the fishing community and island settlers to report all criminals acts to responsible people.
Ferry and boat operators at Kasenyi landing site have decried the poor quality of life jackets on the market, adding that this was compromising water transport safety.
They also said over 90% of people travelling by water do not use life jackets because they are expensive. “Some of the life jackets are small, while others are of low quality. The Uganda National Bureau of Standards should intervene to protect lives of travellers,†said Mohammed Bogere, a businessman at Kasenyi landing site.
This was during a recent sensitisation training on safety and statutory requirements like licence fees at Kasenyi in Wakiso. The training was conducted by the Transport Licensing Board (TLB) and the Marine Police department.
Winstone Katushabe, the TLB secretary, urged passenger boat operators to ensure that all users have life jackets to improve their safety.
He advised against using passenger boats to carry fish. He also said the quality of boats must be ascertained by experts from the ministry to ensure that they conform to the minimum safety requirements before being issued with operators license.
Michael Walwanga a marine commandant said safety on water is a collective responsibility and called upon the fishing community and island settlers to report all criminals acts to responsible people.