Construction of the USD 2.5 million Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Ilimela, Mwanza, Tanzania, is 92 percent complete, marking a major step in efforts to make transport across Lake Victoria safer and more efficient.
The state-of-the-art facility, spearheaded by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), a specialized institution of the East African Community (EAC), will serve as the nerve centre for search and rescue operations on the world’s second-largest freshwater lake.
It will be fitted with advanced vessel-tracking and emergency response systems aimed at curbing the high rate of maritime accidents that have claimed thousands of lives on the lake shared by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
LVBC Executive Secretary Dr. Masinde Bwire said the contractor was expected to finalise works and hand over the project by September 30.
“This is not just an infrastructural project; it is a life-saving investment. Lake Victoria has witnessed some of the worst maritime disasters in the region’s history, including the 1996 MV Bukoba tragedy in Tanzania that killed 800 people, the 2018 MV Nyerere accident that claimed 228 lives, the 2023 ferry accident in Uganda that killed 30, and the 2021 Homa Bay boat tragedy that left 10 dead,” Dr. Bwire said.
He noted that the absence of reliable communication coverage on the lake has hampered rescue efforts.
“For lake transport to be effective, communication is key. Once you go offshore, there is no network coverage. If an accident occurs, initiating rescue measures is extremely difficult. This centre will change that,” he said.
The Regional MRCC is part of the USD 28 million Multinational Lake Victoria Maritime Communications and Transport (MLVMCT) project, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and jointly implemented by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Speaking in Kisumu during a meeting with permanent and principal secretaries from the three partner states, Dr. Bwire said Uganda has already completed a similar facility in Entebbe, while Kenya is constructing one in Kisumu.
Once operational, the regional centre will coordinate activities with the Kisumu and Entebbe facilities, along with a network of smaller stations being established around the lake.
The integrated system is expected to improve safety for fishermen, passengers, and traders, while unlocking new economic opportunities in the maritime sector.
“This is about making lake transport safer while tapping into the over USD 62 billion trade potential of the East African region. Enhanced safety will encourage investment, open up new trade routes, and create jobs for our young people,” Dr. Bwire said.
The Mwanza MRCC will be equipped with a modern maritime communications system that enables real-time vessel tracking and faster mobilisation of rescue missions, a development projected to transform cross-border transport, tourism, and commerce across Lake Victoria.
By Chris Mahandara
