Lake Victoria ports to be revamped at a cost of Sh49.2 billion

Maritime Transport and safety of Lake Victoria is set to improve after two international banks pledged to provide Sh49.2billion (473 million USD) for infrastructural development.

The World Bank and African Development Bank have invested in ensuring Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania which are united through the lake to enhance economic growth.

Environment Cabinet Secretary Judi Wakhungu said the coordination between the development partners and Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) who are the implementers of the project will transform lives and lead to enviable economic growth.

"My conviction is that we need to plan well regionally and implement decisions speedily because that is crucial in enhancing regional integration," she said.

In the projects, World Bank is investing approximately Sh46.8 billion (450 million USD) which will be used to link Dar-e-salaam to Mwanza, Mombasa to Kisumu. The money will be used in developing and equipping ports.

LVBC Executive Secretary, Dr Canisius Kanangire said roads running next to the ports will also be refurbished. The money will also be used to conduct surveys of Lake Victoria to determine its depth, and also get electronic maps which will be used by ships.

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  Agency revives Lambwe forest after ethnic feud and arson
• 
  Priest's death: DCI visits, war on cattle rustling raises questions
• 
  Sacked directors point finger at State House
• 
  Absa Bank partners with women's world banking to boost women entrepreneurs

"If we have well equipped ports in Kisumu and Mwanza and Entebbe too, we can have containers coming from Mombasa and Dar-es-salaam to railway terminal and shipped," he said.

Already installation of extra navigations showing where there are hidden islands and ropes in the Lake are being conducted in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Kanangire said the Africa Development Bank has also promised to release Sh2.4 billion (23 million USD) for the implementation of a project that will ensure that coordination centres will be developed within Lake Victoria.

"In the project, we will have a coordination centre for all calls around Lake in case of distress. The centre will be based in Mwanza. We will have sub centres in Kisumu and Uganda too," he said.

He said they also intend to have 16 rescue stations within and around the lake which will coincide with Beach Management Units (BMUs) so as to create synergies between the unit and new equipment used to rescue.

"The team will be very well trained, the equipment will be state of the art with speedy boats and medical equipped boats in each centre so that we can take care of the injured. Procurement processes have started. By next year, we will start reducing number of casualties being caught in storms", he said.

They were speaking in Kisumu during the fifteenth meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers for Lake Victoria Basin to discuss social economic development and best use of waters in the lake. Kanangire said lake pollution needs to be addressed by the commission for the whole basin to ensure only treated waste water is released in the lake.

"We have policies on water shade management. Siltation is a threat for Lake Victoria. Unless water shade is used well, we cannot prevent silts from getting into the lake.

He said water hyacinth weed is also another challenge since it has not been eradicated, though it has not appeared for three years now.

"The weed has not been eradicated. We should prepare our team on how to deal with it," he said.