Lake Victoria gets Sh19b boost for conservation

By Kepher Otieno

Donors have released Sh19.4 billion for the second phase of the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project (LVEMP).

Lake Basin Commission Executive Secretary Tom Okurut, yesterday told East African Community Council of Ministers the work would be completed by December.

"We have secured funding for three key projects LVEMP II, Lake Victoria Watsan and Lake Victoria Communication," he told the regional ministers. LVEMP II funding was received from Global Environmental Facility through the World Bank, Swedish International Development Corporation Agency, and the African Development Bank.

LVEMP has enabled governments and locals to embark on long-term resource management programmes.

Environment training

The project provides training for locals and Government staff and sharing of information among member countries.

It also strengthens capacity to manage shared water and fisheries resources. Okurut said the projects would ensure sustainable development of the lake basin.

He was speaking in Kisumu during the sixth ordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission.

Forestry and Wildlife Minister Noah Wekesa admitted that wanton destruction of forests had caused severe environmental degradation and destroyed water catchments areas.

"In 1952 when I was young, Lake Victoria was fresh. Today it is choking with filth and hyacinth threatening its ecosystem. This is what new laws must redress," he said.

At the same time, the regional ministers were told that political will is required to implement regulated and harmonised trans-boundary policies.

Rwandan Minister Natural Resources Vincent Karega said without strong political backing from the five EAC countries, it would be difficult to implement joint policies.

"For us to domesticate binding recommendations and resolutions among EAC partner states, there must be strong political will," he said.

He challenged regional governments to re-think their policies and be more pragmatic in implementing joint policies.

He said Rwanda was ready to implement policies on best practices in sharing natural resources in the region.

"We must be strict with our policies because of the increasing population to ensure effective control of our natural resources," he said.

Joint policies

Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania and Ugandan ministers backed the Rwandan minister and vowed to implement the cross border policies.

Tanzanian Minister for Water and Irrigation Mark Mwandosya, Burundi Minister for Water and Environment Deo Ndikumana and Ugandan colleague Jeffer Namuyungu also declared to abide by the joint policies.