Principal Secretaries (PSs) from East African Community (EAC) member states have pledged to allocate more funds to conserve Lake Victoria and its surrounding environment.
Julius Korir, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Sanitation and Water, emphasised the need for member states to ensure that national investments in water and sanitation are strengthened in tandem with efforts to mobilise resources from development partners.
“As we continue to mobilise funds from our development partners, we must also ensure that our national budgets reflect the gravity of the situation,” Korir said.
He noted that only by increasing their own financial commitments can they ensure the sustainability of Lake Victoria and secure the livelihoods of the millions who depend on it.
Dr Alfred Okidi, Uganda’s Permanent Secretary for Water and Environment, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation in the management of shared water resources.
"The projects we are implementing, such as the maritime safety initiative, are not just about protecting our waters but also about improving the livelihoods of our people across the basin. Ensuring safe, clean, and productive ecosystems is a shared responsibility," Okidi noted.
Beatrice Cyiza, Rwanda’s Permanent Secretary for Environment, highlighted the value of a programmatic approach to addressing the region's water and sanitation challenges.
"The integration of water resources management, sanitation, and environmental protection across member states demonstrates the strength of our regional cooperation," Cyiza said.
The efforts of the LVBC have been instrumental in mobilizing resources and ensuring that projects benefit all nations within the basin," Cyiza emphasised.
The officials were speaking in Kisumu during the 11th joint regional policy steering committee meeting for the Lake Victoria Basin Commission’s projects and programmes.
Dr Masinde Bwire, Executive Secretary of the LVBC, reiterated the ongoing and future initiatives aimed at improving water and sanitation systems.
These include the Lake Victoria Basin Integrated Water Resources Management (LVB-IWRM) Program, co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the Government of Germany, as well as the Multinational Lake Victoria Maritime Communication and Transport Project.
These programmes aim to address challenges such as water pollution, silting, and agricultural runoff.
The meeting also highlighted pipeline projects aimed at improving sanitation in key towns like Kisumu, Mwanza, and Kampala, alongside efforts to reduce pollution from agricultural and urban activities.
In particular, the LVBC has made progress with the construction of a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania, designed to enhance safety in the lake’s transport systems.
“The success of these programmes depends not only on international funding but also on the continued commitment of our governments to prioritize and allocate resources for the sustainability of the Lake Victoria Basin,” Bwire said.
With the commitment from EAC member states to allocate more resources towards these efforts, the Lake Victoria Basin is set to benefit from greater regional cooperation and sustainable environmental practices.
