The construction of a Sh250 million regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Ilimela, Mwanza, Tanzania, is now 92 per cent complete, marking a major milestone in efforts to make transport across Lake Victoria safer and more efficient.
The facility, spearheaded by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), a specialised institution of the East African Community, would serve as the nerve centre for search and rescue operations on the world’s second largest freshwater lake.
It will also host advanced vessel tracking and emergency response systems aimed at curbing the high rate of maritime accidents that have claimed thousands of lives over the years.
LVBC
executive secretary Masinde Bwire said the contractor was expected to finalise
the remaining works and hand over the project by September 30.
“This is not just an infrastructure 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 that killed 800 people in Tanzania, the 2018 MV Nyerere accident that claimed 228 lives, the 2023 ferry accident in Uganda that killed 30 people and the 2021 Homa Bay boat tragedy that left 10 dead,” Bwire said.
He said that the absence of reliable communication coverage on the lake has made it difficult to report and respond to emergencies in time.
“For lake transport to be effective, communication is key. As we speak, when you go offshore, there is no network coverage. If an accident occurs, initiating rescue measures is very difficult. This centre will change that,” he said.
He said MRCC was part of the $28 million Multinational Lake Victoria Maritime Communications and Transport project, funded by the African Development Bank, and jointly implemented by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Addressing the media in Kisumu during a meeting with permanent and principal secretaries responsible for the project from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, Bwire said Uganda has already completed a similar facility in Entebbe, while Kenya is constructing one in Kisumu.
He said once operational, the Mwanza centre would coordinate activities with the Kisumu and Entebbe facilities, as well as a network of smaller stations being established across the lake.
The integrated system will improve safety for fishermen, passengers and traders ferrying goods, unlocking new economic opportunities in the maritime sector.
“This is about making lake transport safer while tapping into the over $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,” Bwire said.
He added that the centre would be equipped with a modern maritime communications system, enabling real-time tracking of vessels and faster mobilisation of rescue missions, a development expected to transform cross-border transport, tourism and commerce across the lake.
