Houses compete for space with lake

May 29, 2013

As the campaign to save Lake Victoria continues, let's explore Mayuge district and see how residents have built in the lake.

In a campaign dubbed Save Lake Victoria to highlight pertinent issues concerning the underthreat water resource, let's explore Mayuge district and how residents have built in the lake.

By George Bita

An endless marshy stretch welcomes visitors to the Lake Victoria shoreline in Mayuge district. It reflects some kind of gradual transition from land to water.

In some instances, even the roads to landing sites are cut off by rising waters from adjacent wetlands; a reminder that the routes encroach on a natural aquatic ecosystem.

The roads to Bwondha, Bugoto and Kabuuka trading centres bear witness to the continuous struggle between man and nature.

Unfortunately, this encroachment on the natural set up has not been limited to the mainland; some people have built houses right onto the lake waters inevitably affecting the aquatic habitat.

At Kabuuka lakeside village, locals graze their cattle up to the waterside with the dung easily spilling over into the lake. Houses are equally mounted atop the rocky beach front with most dirt let off into the water body.



Nango landing site

Matters are not any better at the nearby Nango landing site. Some fishermen here built right onto the lake, apparently to easily access the lake.

Their canoes are literally docked on their verandas so that even if they come in at night they simply dive in bed as their cargo safely floats by the doorway.

Every time they wash clothes, they hang them above the lake waters with soap and other dirt draining freely into the lake. The beach also bears heaps of polythene bags intertwined with water hyacinth.

Joseph Maaka, a fisherman at Kabuuka village in Malongo sub-county, observes that most people living on the beaches had been thrown out of south Busoga forest reserve during the 1989 evictions.

“Over 35,000 people owned extensive farmlands in the area. However, a directive was given for them to vacate that public land leaving them with no other alternative, but to relocate to the shoreline,” he reveals.



Efforts by leaders

Hillary Luwere, a local leader at Bugoto in Kityerera sub-county, says the lake waters have been the sole livelihood to locals over the years with almost all daily activities revolving around it.

“In the night, fishermen go fishing, when they get back they use the very waters to wash their fishing nets. The women collect water from the lake for domestic use while household wastes are discarded into the very waters,” Luwere says.

He adds that Safe Water project, recently set up a solar-powered piped-water supply in nine communal taps.

“The taps located at designated points in the area have of late helped to alleviate the plight of the residents,” he adds.

Asuman Kibugudo, a youth leader at Bugoto landing site says there is no other business in the area apart from fishing.

“I know that I will get something from the lake to keep me moving. The smallest tilapia fish costs a minimum of sh3,500 while a Nile Perch of 20kg fetches sh70,000,” Kibugudo affirms.

According to him, to them water is life and even if it is turning green the residents have no option, but to keep depending on it.

“We are surprised to see the waters changing colour, but then if we avoid it where will we get food or money from?” Kibugudo asks.

“There are cases of some who confiscate iron-sheets from improper shacks, get illegal fishing gear or boats and resale them from neighbouring landing sites for monetary benefits,” he says.

Musa Lubanga, the Mayuge natural resources officer, explains that the local government has been at the forefront of sensitising locals about the need to respect environmental regulations.

“I have on numerous occasions advised people living near the shoreline to stay 200 metres away as stipulated in environmental laws. However, these people are not good at respecting authority and at times politicise such issues,” Lubanga observes.

He adds that some have farmlands right up to the shoreline. The pesticides and fertilisers used on crops especially tomatoes end up washed into Lake Victoria.

“The consequent green-looking water shows us that aquatic organisms are dying because of these chemicals are killing the lake silently,” Lubanga says.

What is destroying the lake?
Sedu Bafirawara, a fisheries enforcement officer at Bugoto beach, warns that uncontrolled human activity is killing the lake.

“I have resided in this area for over 20 years. I think if we endeavoured to use recommended nets and proper boats on the lake, our fish stocks would be as much as it was in the past,” he says.

Bafirawara says the most unfortunate bit is that those meant to ensure the sustainability of the lake are easily corrupted and opt for self aggrandisement at the expense of nature.

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