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Charity offers Uganda aid - via swimming lessons

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published February 23, 2007

KAMPALA, Uganda - When many people think of aid to Africa, they imagine sacks of grain for the starving or blankets for the homeless.

But in Uganda, one charity is offering something different: swimming lessons.

"After AIDS and malaria, drowning is the biggest cause of death in our local communities here on the lake," said Patrick Tumwijukye, manager of a charity that is coordinating swimming lessons on Lake Bunyonyi, in the country's far west.

In the past five years, more than 1,000 residents have drowned in Uganda's lakes, though officials say the actual number is far higher - only a small fraction of drownings are reported to authorities.

Marine police do not keep records on how many victims have been claimed by the 67-square-mile Lake Bunyonyi, Africa's second-deepest lake.

Landlocked Uganda's 10 major lakes are a lifeline for much of the population, providing fish, water and fertile ground for growing crops. The government Water Resources Department estimates that Uganda's fisheries earn the country $150-million each year.

But poor public transportation links on Uganda's lakes means residents often rely on homemade boats and dugout canoes to fish and transport goods to markets. These vessels are often unstable or overloaded and frequently cause fatal accidents.

And in spite of their reliance on these waters, the majority of Uganda's 25-million people cannot swim.

"Even me, I am just now learning to swim," said Simon Peter Okoshi, the marine police chief. "Swimming is not in the culture here. Many people are hydrophobic."

Tumwijukye said the program, run by the nonprofit Lake Bunyonyi Development Company, has taught 2,200 Ugandans to swim since 2003.

The group, a government-registered charity, also funds programs for HIV/AIDS education, orphan care and small livestock distribution.

[Last modified February 23, 2007, 01:05:15]