Death looms as water bodies continue to dry up
Nov 07, 2005
The government needs to enact strict policies on environmental conservation to check on the continuous drying of water bodies.
By Ebenezer Bifubyeka
The government needs to enact strict policies on environmental conservation to check on the continuous drying of water bodies.
The destruction of water catchment areas has caused a reduction of water levels in Lake Victoria by one metre in the past decade, the UN environmental programme (UNEP) report released on October 31 said. The report was released at the start of the 11th World Lakes meeting at Kenyatta International Conference Center, Nairobi.
The report cites deforestation, drought, climate change, over-leasing of water at hydro power facilities and poor methods of farming as the key causes of the shrinking of Lake Victoria.
Apart from lakes, River Rwizi, which supplies water to major lakes right from south-western Uganda up to Lake Victoria, has not filled up for the last three years because of persistent dry spells in the region.
The dry spell has been attributed to destruction of trees which form rainfall. There is shortage of rainfall resulting into prolonged dry spells. The trees on the Buhweju (Bushenyi) and Ibanda hills have been cut and many swamps have been encroached on. Consequently, River Rwizi gets less water and various supplies to Lake Victoria connected to Rwizi are equally affected.
River Semuliki, which separates Uganda from Congo, has changed its course due to silting (caused by excessive erosion) resulting from over stocking/overgrazing and the melting (because of global warming) of the snow on Mount Rwenzori.
Intensive cattle grazing along the banks of River Semuliki (both in Uganda and DR Congo) has contributed to the change in the river’s course. On the Uganda side, each household reportedly owns over 5,000 head of cattle. And there is loss of vegetation cover in every 5km-stretch where the cattle watering points are located. This has led to soil erosion and the collapse of riverbanks into the river.
Semuliki has its origin in DR Congo and goes through lakes Edward, Albert and pours its water into Albert Nile on its way to Egypt.
Semuliki is one of the main tributaries of River Nile, which sustainably supports life and activities in 10 different countries in which it passes before connecting to the Mediterranean Sea.
Many people don’t know the importance of rivers and lakes. Therefore, there is need for strict policies on tree planting coupled with campaigns against deforestation, overstocking, bush burning, swamp reclamation and poor methods of farming. We better take serious action now or we perish.
Ends
The government needs to enact strict policies on environmental conservation to check on the continuous drying of water bodies.
The destruction of water catchment areas has caused a reduction of water levels in Lake Victoria by one metre in the past decade, the UN environmental programme (UNEP) report released on October 31 said. The report was released at the start of the 11th World Lakes meeting at Kenyatta International Conference Center, Nairobi.
The report cites deforestation, drought, climate change, over-leasing of water at hydro power facilities and poor methods of farming as the key causes of the shrinking of Lake Victoria.
Apart from lakes, River Rwizi, which supplies water to major lakes right from south-western Uganda up to Lake Victoria, has not filled up for the last three years because of persistent dry spells in the region.
The dry spell has been attributed to destruction of trees which form rainfall. There is shortage of rainfall resulting into prolonged dry spells. The trees on the Buhweju (Bushenyi) and Ibanda hills have been cut and many swamps have been encroached on. Consequently, River Rwizi gets less water and various supplies to Lake Victoria connected to Rwizi are equally affected.
River Semuliki, which separates Uganda from Congo, has changed its course due to silting (caused by excessive erosion) resulting from over stocking/overgrazing and the melting (because of global warming) of the snow on Mount Rwenzori.
Intensive cattle grazing along the banks of River Semuliki (both in Uganda and DR Congo) has contributed to the change in the river’s course. On the Uganda side, each household reportedly owns over 5,000 head of cattle. And there is loss of vegetation cover in every 5km-stretch where the cattle watering points are located. This has led to soil erosion and the collapse of riverbanks into the river.
Semuliki has its origin in DR Congo and goes through lakes Edward, Albert and pours its water into Albert Nile on its way to Egypt.
Semuliki is one of the main tributaries of River Nile, which sustainably supports life and activities in 10 different countries in which it passes before connecting to the Mediterranean Sea.
Many people don’t know the importance of rivers and lakes. Therefore, there is need for strict policies on tree planting coupled with campaigns against deforestation, overstocking, bush burning, swamp reclamation and poor methods of farming. We better take serious action now or we perish.
Ends