During its annual general assembly, the Lake Victoria Region Local Authorities Co-operation (LVRLAC) Uganda chapter appealed for sustainable utilisation of Lake Victoria, which is currently facing massive pollution.
The hazardous human practices and poor utilisation of the Lake, have led to water fluctuations and pollution. A recent communication from the National Water and Sewerage Corporation in Uganda indicated that there was low water pressures in the entire network. This was attributed to power outages and poor raw quality water of Lake Victoria.
During the LVRLAC assembly which was held on February 15, at Interservice beach in Katabi town council, Wakiso district, leaders called for a multi stakeholder approach to Lake Victoria ecosystem restoration.
While addressing the delegates, Stephen Kabuye the LVRLAC Honorary President appealed to the members to create more awareness and sensitize communities on the plight of lake Victoria with a view of turning the wheel on the social economic and environmental degradation.
He further urged the chapter members to grow and strengthen the membership of LVRLAC in the local chapter through meeting the required membership obligations as set out in the establishment instruments of the network.
“Through such membership strength, LVRLAC will be able to demonstrate the combined efforts of the local authorities in contributing to the shared vision for lake Victoria basin and attract additional partnerships nationally, regionally and globally to support these efforts”, he said.
Kabuye concluded with words of the great philosopher John Welsley; “Do all the good all you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all times you can to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
Algae is reportedly multiplying on Lake Victoria as increased discharges of untreated sewage and chemical pollution runoff into the lake. “The green coloring is associated with too much algae, an effect of rising climatic and human influences,” noted Andrew Otage.
The high temperatures cause the lake to retain the same temperature resulting in mixing of water at the lake bottom, causing suffocation of aquatic life as oxygen is depleted. Decomposing organic matter rises and settles at the top, causing foul odour and colour as the bacteria thrives.
Emmanuel Sserungogi the LVRLAC Uganda chapter chairperson pointed out some of the achievements obtained in the past years, including the chapter office located in Makindye, executive and the official handover that took place on August 02, 2022, representing the chapter in Arusha and signing a memorandum of understanding with different institutions including the current one with Buganda kingdom among others.
Ronald Kalema the Vice Chairperson of LVRLAC Uganda chapter said the assembly symbolizes the unity in diversity that brings the lake Victoria community acting together as one for the betterment of the people’s livelihood irrespective of social, economic and political affiliation.
The leaders also noted that the main challenge faced by the chapter, is unsustainable income whereby, the secretariat has to rely on members’ contribution.
The February general assembly was accompanied by various activities including general cleaning of the Kawuku trading center by the LVRLAC delegates and a courtesy visit to the Uganda Buddhist Temple and Mahathi Infra Uganda limited which aims to vitalise the natural resource for Lake Victoria.
LVRLAC is a network organization of local authorities (Mayors, Town Clerks, District Environment officers, District Commercial Officers, Urban Planners, Municipality leaders, among others) around Lake Victoria with the mandate to coordinate and strengthen collaborative efforts within the Lake Victoria Basin to sustainably harness the region’s resources and promote the well-being of the riparian communities.
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