Uganda loses more than eight lives to drowning every day. Behind those numbers are fishermen, boat operators, and community members whose livelihoods depend on the water.
We engaged with Design without Borders Africa, who consulted Dr. Frederick Oporia on testing the seaworthiness of their lifejacket prototypes. The session included live demonstrations comparing these prototypes with lifejackets currently on the market, products that at‑risk communities often perceive as too expensive.
Once proven effective in the water, these prototypes could provide a low‑cost, high‑impact alternative for fishing communities unable to afford imported lifejackets. Affordable lifejackets are more than equipment; they are a direct lifeline to reducing drowning deaths in Uganda. When those most exposed to water can afford protection, we move closer to a country where fewer families mourn loved ones lost to preventable drowning
