The Government of Uganda has officially received the Kaazi Search and Rescue (SAR) Centre, a state-of-the-art facility constructed on the shores of Lake Victoria, within the Uganda Scouts Association Camp in Kaazi. Mr. Bageya Waiswa, the Permanent Secretary received the facility marking a major milestone in Uganda’s efforts to enhance maritime safety and rescue coordination on its waterways.
The Kaazi SAR Centre is one of five facilities established under the Multinational Lake Victoria Maritime Communications and Transport (MLVMCT) Project, a regional initiative funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB). The project seeks to strengthen maritime communication, safety, and transport operations across the Lake Victoria Basin — a vital economic and social lifeline for millions in East Africa.
The other SAR Centres under the project include Zangebe located in Nakasongola on the shores of Lake Kyoga, Panyimur in Pakwach at the shores of Lake Albert, Kaiso in Kikuube on the shores of Lake Albert, and Masese in Jinja on the shores of Lake Victoria. Together, these strategically located centres form a national network designed to enhance safety, improve coordination, and ensure rapid response to maritime incidents on Uganda’s major water bodies.
Each Search and Rescue Centre serves as an operational base where trained personnel coordinate search and rescue operations in response to alerts from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), currently under construction in Entebbe. The integration of these facilities into the wider regional communications system will ensure faster emergency response, improved data sharing, and stronger cross-border collaboration among Lake Victoria’s partner states.
Beyond their core search and rescue functions, the SAR Centres are equipped with medical facilities to provide emergency care for survivors and offices for marine vessel licensing and registration. This multi-functional design will improve service delivery, streamline maritime administration, and strengthen Uganda’s oversight of safety standards on inland waters.
Speaking at the commissioning, Permanent Secretary Bageya Waiswa commended the African Development Bank and all partners for their support in advancing Uganda’s maritime safety agenda. He emphasized that the Kaazi SAR Centre represents a tangible commitment by government to safeguard lives, protect livelihoods, and promote safer transport on Lake Victoria and other inland waterways.
The MLVMCT Project continues to roll out similar interventions across the region, aiming to reduce maritime accidents, improve communications, and foster safer, more efficient transport for the communities that depend on Africa’s largest freshwater lake.
