East African Community (EAC) countries have pledged to jointly conserve Lake Victoria, which is threatened by increasing pollution.
Representatives from seven EAC partner countries say the delicate lake ecosystems that support millions of people in the region face myriad challenges with pollution recognized as a major threat. said.
Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) Executive Secretary (ES) Dr Masinde Bwire said pollution in the lake had increased by 50% in the past 40 years, posing a danger to humans and aquatic life.
He said raw sewage, industrial wastewater and large amounts of plastic were flowing into the lake from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, threatening to destroy the world's second-largest freshwater lake.
He said the influx of sediment from the three provinces and neighboring Rwanda and Burundi was also a major challenge that, if not addressed, would have a major impact on the existence of the lake.
Speaking in Kisumu during the 22nd Lake Victoria Basin Council of Ministers (SECOM-LVB), Dr Bwyer said the effects of pollution were already starting to be felt and the situation could get out of hand if not addressed quickly. He said it was highly sexual.
He pointed out that the lake's fish stocks have declined, adding that some of the species that were present in the water body have become extinct due to rapid pollution.
To reverse this trend, the LVBC, the East African Community (EAC) institution responsible for coordinating the sustainable development of the Lake Victoria basin, will convene a scientific conference in November attended by experts and He said he would publish a paper on restoration and preservation methods. lake.
This will be followed by Lake Victoria Day, which will call for action from all agencies to ensure that the lake is given priority in all conservation programs within the EAC, he added.
The Lake Victoria Basin Council of Ministers (SECOM-LVB) is the governing body of the Commission that provides strategic direction to the Commission in the interest of the people of East Africa.
The meeting was attended by Geoffrey Kaituko, Kenya's Chief Secretary for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Emmanuel Nyungeko, Deputy Environment Minister (PS) of Burundi, Patrick Carrera, Rwanda's Deputy Environment Minister (PS), and Patrick Carrera, representative of the Ministry of Water of South Sudan. did. Mr. Chut Isaac, Permanent Secretary for Water, Mr. Alfred Okidi, Permanent Secretary (PS) for Water, Tanzania, Professor Jamal Katundu, and Dr. Benard Kibise, Tanzanian Ambassador to Kenya.
Geoffrey Kaituko, Kenya's PS for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, said cooperation among EAC member states was key to preserving the waters.
He added that Kenya is working with Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania to strengthen security within the lake.
Rwanda PS Ministry of Environment Patrick Carrera said that the country is rolling out a number of programs to control soil erosion and pollution.
“We are educating farmers on good agricultural practices so that soil does not flow into the lake,” he said.
His Tanzanian counterpart, Professor Jamal Katundu, said good relations between partner countries were key to leveraging collective conservation of the lake.
Mr Katundu said many joint programs were already underway, adding that efforts to save the lake would be scaled up through partnerships with development partners.
“We are already in talks with the World Bank and hope to be able to raise much-needed funding to protect the lake,” he said.
Written by Chris Mahandara
