Lake Victoria is dying slowly, Uganda must lead its rescue

___________________

OPINION

By Victor Nsereko Wantate

Lake Victoria is the lifeblood of East Africa. It feeds our families, powers our homes, transports our goods, and anchors Uganda’s fisheries and tourism economies. But make no mistake: Lake Victoria is dying slowly, and much of the damage is preventable.

From Jinja to Entebbe to Masaka, raw sewage, industrial effluent, and plastic waste pour into the lake every day. Ageing municipal systems and a lack of enforcement allow untreated waste from abattoirs, fish factories, and residential areas to flow directly into the water. In some landing sites, fishers work amid human waste and plastic sludge.

At the same time, fertiliser and pesticide runoff from farms in Mpigi, Wakiso, Mukono, and the greater Lake Victoria catchment is choking the lake with nutrients. This accelerates the growth of toxic algae, depleting oxygen and killing fish. Algal blooms are now visible from satellite images.

Water hyacinth, an invasive species once thought to be controlled, is making a dangerous comeback. It spreads rapidly in nutrient-rich water, blocking boat access, suffocating biodiversity, and creating breeding grounds for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Fishermen must now paddle longer distances to find clear water and fish.

Meanwhile, riparian forests are disappearing. In many districts, trees have been cleared up to the shoreline for farming, bricklaying, and settlement. Without vegetative buffers, soil and sediment are washing into the lake, silting fish breeding grounds and lowering water quality.

What does this mean for Uganda?

- Our Nile Perch and Tilapia stocks are in decline, threatening food security and the livelihoods of over 1 million Ugandans.

- Power generation at Nalubaale and Kiira dams is under pressure, as water quality affects turbine efficiency and infrastructure lifespan.

- Tourism is being quietly eroded, with beaches and boat launches increasingly polluted and unattractive.

Yet, despite these known risks, Uganda’s response remains fragmented. Local governments lack both funding and enforcement authority. The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) issue reports, but implementation lags behind reality.

It is time for Uganda to lead—not with more speeches, but with action. Here's what must happen immediately:

1. Strict enforcement of the National Environment Act (2019): Polluting industries must be fined and compelled to upgrade their waste treatment systems.
2. Funding for municipal sewage upgrades in all towns along the lakefront, from Jinja to Kalangala.
3. Mandatory reforestation of riparian zones, with native species that stabilise shorelines and filter runoff.
4. Targeted removal of water hyacinth using local labour, coordinated by districts and supported by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces if necessary.
5. Ban single-use plastics at scale, not just in policy but in practice, with audits and penalties.
6. Support for sustainable aquaculture, to relieve pressure on wild stocks and restore natural breeding grounds.


Lake Victoria is not just a body of water. It is a regional security asset, a public health shield, and a pillar of Uganda’s rural economy. Its collapse would be catastrophic.

But the good news is: we still have a chance. Uganda has technical expertise, community networks, and the largest share of the lake’s coastline. We can—and must—lead the region in its rescue.

Because if we fail Lake Victoria, we fail ourselves.

The writer is the founder and managing director, Lukango Tree Conservancy