{UAH} LAKE VICTORIA ACCIDENT: CASE STUDY OF THE IGNORANCE & NEGLIGENCE IN MARINE SAFETY STANDARDS

Picture: Obviously someone was looking to make as much money as possible by dangerously piling as many party revellers as possible (over 140 passengers) on board this already feeble old vessel which might not even be properly insured, or properly inspected, or properly licensed, thereby turning this so-called "boat cruise" into a sure deal death trap just waiting to take innocent peoples lives. A scenario no different from the unsafe boats that we see on TV news capsizing with African refugees dying in their thousands every month as they frantically attempt to cross the mediteranean sea to Europe. Yet here it is being used in broad daylight for boat parties of the new Ugandan elite and their unsuspecting socialite children.

But first, condolences to the families and friends of those who have just lost their lives in this shocking boat accident yesterday on Lake Victoria.
Secondly, I call for a serious review of the public transportation system on Lake Victoria and even on all the other water bodies in the Great Lakes region. Governments cannot mourn every accident and then simply return to our negligence.
Barely two months ago, we were all mourning an even worse Tanzania ferry accident on the same lake. On September 22nd in my condolence message to the people of Tanzania, I offered technical/policy advice saying: "Obviously more attention needs to be paid to the water transport sector on Lake Victoria. We Ugandans have had our share of catastrophic accidents on the same Lake. Why aren't the three East African countries around this Lake, sitting together to ensure that the transport infrastructure is indeed more secure for the ordinary people. Surely the quality of public transport on Lake Victoria needs to be upgraded into 21st century facilities. I estimate that water transport on Lake Victoria has not reached even a fifth of its potential because of negligence and lack of political will. It is therefore an area where special focus and strategic investment need to be applied, starting with establishing minimum safety standards across the board. A few months ago, some foreign investors visited Uganda and were checking the viability of investing in marine transport on Lake Victoria. Wouldn't it therefore be time to establish a common intergovernmental Great Lakes region body that will establish common minimum standards of public transport safety? We have to move from the dangerous vessels that ply these waters and into better and yet affordable modern marine public transportation.
All East African countries have laws against vehicles that are in Dangerous Mechanical Condition (DMC's). These laws need to be rigorously applied to marine transport as well.
Private investment from foreign investors knowledgeable in the sector will definitely also bring more experience including in maintenance and safety standards?  Easy, modern, comfortable and secure public transport on Lake Victoria is what needs to be established. It is also a big market simply waiting to be tapped.
We can look nearby and see some of the great vessels that ply the tourism route between Daresalaam and Zanzibar on the Indian Ocean, then compare that to what is on Lake Victoria (including by the same country). Going to Zanzibar by boat, one would think he/she was on holiday in Europe, on the Mediterranean sea, comfortably roaming around Cyprus, Malta, or Greece.. So a similar modernization effort should be developed on Lake Victoria, and generally in all water bodies in the region, .so as to achieve safer, quality transportation for the people of East Africa and the increasing number of visitors and tourists. It also creates third party opportunities for more small businesses providing all kinds of added services for travelers and/or cargo, and therefore providing jobs and uplifting peoples standards of living around the Lakes. A definite impetus for the yet-to-be maximized tourism industry potential of Lake Victoria. May the souls of the departed rest in peace and may everything be done by authorities to ensure higher safety standards on marine transport on Lake Victoria for all our peoples."

Today, I would like to not only offer the advice above again, I also hereby volunteer to help in any meaningful Intergovernmental marine transport review effort if any, on humane grounds (and not for any government salary, any 4wd drive vehicles or any other government perks), so as to improve the safety record of the marine transport sector, and so as to prevent countless more of our peoples from dying from our own complacency in regards to public safety standards.

By Hussein Lumumba Amin
Kampala, Uganda

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