In a cruel twist of fate, a team of anti-drowning sensitisation officers became the ones in need of rescue after their boat was stranded on Lake Victoria Wednesday afternoon.
The vessel, carrying an unspecified number of officers, ran out of fuel en route between Mwena and Kitobo.
According to sources, emergency calls were made immediately to alert authorities and local fishermen.
However, hours after the incident, no rescue craft has arrived, leaving the team adrift on the unpredictable waters they campaign to make safer.
The officers were conducting community outreach programmes, a critical mission on a lake notorious for its frequent and deadly drowning accidents.
The incident highlights the persistent dangers faced by those working on the lake and the chronic lack of resources that plague safety efforts.
Local community leaders have expressed frustration at the delayed response, calling it a stark reminder of the urgent need for better emergency services on Africa’s largest lake. As night falls, concerns for the team’s safety grow considerably.