Swimming instructors trained to curb school drowning
The Life-Saving Association in Uganda is launching a certification program for swimming instructors to address the high rate of childhood drownings. The initiative aims to replace informal, recreational water play with professional instruction in primary schools.
Why it matters
Professionalizing swimming instruction is a vital public safety measure to reduce preventable child mortality in regions where water safety education is lacking.
Many Ugandan schools charge parents for swimming lessons, yet few provide formal instruction.
Instead, children participate in water play and recreational activities such as splashing and wading, often supervised by untrained guards.
While water play is valued in early childhood education for its developmental benefits, most students complete primary school without acquiring swimming skills, contrary to parents' expectations.
For this reason, the Life-Saving Association in Uganda has begun training swimming instructors to ensure that qualified professionals teach students, particularly in primary schools. The goal is for all students to acquire essential swimming and water safety skills before completing primary school.
On Saturday, a five-day-a-week course conducted by George William Mukasa, President of the Life-Saving Association, concluded at the Lloli Fun Park swimming pool in Kyebando, with 20 participants earning certification.
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