Greatest risk facing Uganda
Jan 26, 2005
UGANDA is experiencing a severe power shortage because the low water level in Lake Victoria cannot support both dams at Owen Falls.
UGANDA is experiencing a severe power shortage because the low water level in Lake Victoria cannot support both dams at Owen Falls.
A 50 Mw diesel power station should be operational by April and in the longer term the Bujagali dam project should finally take off. Bujagali should not run short of water because it is downstream from Owen Falls.
However these remedies treat the symptom and not the cause. Water levels in Lake Victoria are falling because of prolonged drought in East Africa and because global warming has increased the rate of evaporation in the lake. The rate of forest cover in Uganda has dropped dramatically in the last 30 years. In 2000, Uganda entered ‘wood deficit’, meaning that Uganda now consumes more wood than it grows in plantations and natural forests. Uganda’s wood cover is still disappearing.
Deforestation is even worse in Kenya and accelerating in Tanzania. This is why there is drought and why water levels in the lake are falling. One day Lake Victoria may not even have enough water for the original Owen Falls dam. This is the greatest risk facing Uganda today. The only long-term solution is to increase the amount of forest cover in east Africa.
The East African heads of state should hold an emergency summit meeting to discuss deforestation and drought.
East Africa needs a massive reforestation drive, not just to protect Lake Victoria but also to provide wood fuel for households that do not have access to electricity. If East Africa could start increasing forest cover around the lake, this would improve water retention, cool the air thus reducing evaporation, and minimise soil erosion into the lake.
Government is wasting its time trying to develop hydroelectric power in Uganda if it does not at the same time rapidly start a huge tree-planting programme. Without increased forest cover, these hydroelectric dams will be doomed to failure.
A 50 Mw diesel power station should be operational by April and in the longer term the Bujagali dam project should finally take off. Bujagali should not run short of water because it is downstream from Owen Falls.
However these remedies treat the symptom and not the cause. Water levels in Lake Victoria are falling because of prolonged drought in East Africa and because global warming has increased the rate of evaporation in the lake. The rate of forest cover in Uganda has dropped dramatically in the last 30 years. In 2000, Uganda entered ‘wood deficit’, meaning that Uganda now consumes more wood than it grows in plantations and natural forests. Uganda’s wood cover is still disappearing.
Deforestation is even worse in Kenya and accelerating in Tanzania. This is why there is drought and why water levels in the lake are falling. One day Lake Victoria may not even have enough water for the original Owen Falls dam. This is the greatest risk facing Uganda today. The only long-term solution is to increase the amount of forest cover in east Africa.
The East African heads of state should hold an emergency summit meeting to discuss deforestation and drought.
East Africa needs a massive reforestation drive, not just to protect Lake Victoria but also to provide wood fuel for households that do not have access to electricity. If East Africa could start increasing forest cover around the lake, this would improve water retention, cool the air thus reducing evaporation, and minimise soil erosion into the lake.
Government is wasting its time trying to develop hydroelectric power in Uganda if it does not at the same time rapidly start a huge tree-planting programme. Without increased forest cover, these hydroelectric dams will be doomed to failure.