The East African Community (EAC) Partner States have committed to boosting investments in the conservation of Lake Victoria, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake, which has long been threatened by pollution and the adverse effects of climate change.

During the 11th Joint Regional Policy Steering Committee (RPSC) meeting for Lake Victoria Basin Commission’s projects and programmes, Principal , Permanent  and Undersecretaries from the EAC Partner States expressed strong support for increasing funding to continue conservation efforts aimed at protecting the lake.

The meeting, chaired by Hon. Julius Korir, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for the State Department of Water and Sanitation, emphasized the need for locally-driven solutions to tackle the rapidly escalating pollution, which threatens both human and aquatic life.

 

Hon. Korir warned that pollution posed a serious risk to the lake’s survival, which supports the livelihoods of millions of East Africans.

He called on the partner states to prioritize conservation, especially as funding from external development partners is declining.

The Principal Secretary also commended the ongoing conservation efforts led by LVBC, recognizing their significant contribution to reducing pressure on the lake.

Key programs highlighted included the Lake Victoria Basin Integrated Water Resource Management (LVB-IWRM) project, which has improved sanitation in urban areas such as Kisumu, Kampala, Kigali, and Mwanza,

Other notable initiatives discussed included the Multinational Lake Victoria Maritime Communication and Transport (MLVMCT) project and the Nile Cooperation for Climate Change Resilience (NCCR) project.

Uganda’s Permanent Secretary for Water and Environment, Hon. Alfred Okot, underscored the importance of joint efforts to conserve the lake, urging the partner states to remain dedicated to the cause.

Rwanda’s Permanent Secretary for Water, Hon. Beatrice Cyiza, also echoed this sentiment, stressing that successful conservation efforts could not be achieved in isolation.

Dr. Masinde Bwire, the Executive Secretary of LVBC, reassured attendees that the commission was making substantial progress in its various conservation projects. He highlighted the commission’s efforts to expand partnerships with development agencies in order to complete existing projects and introduce new initiatives aimed at preserving Lake Victoria.

 

The meeting, which took place on January 29-31, brought together ministries responsible for Water, Environment and Natural Resources, as well as Maritime Transport and Communications. It was attended by representatives from all five EAC Partner States—Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Tanzania.

The Joint Regional Policy Steering Committee (JRPSC) provides policy oversight and guidance to the LVBC, ensuring the successful implementation of regional projects and programs. At this meeting, the committee reviewed the progress of decisions and directives from the previous JRPSC session held from January 30 to February 3, 2023, and assessed the status of project implementations.

Key regional programs discussed during the meeting included:

  • The Lake Victoria Basin Integrated Water Resource Management (LVB-IWRM) Program, co-funded by KfW and the European Union (EU).
  • GIZ Technical Cooperation in IWRM-EAC/LVBC.
  • The Multi-National Lake Victoria Maritime Communication and Transport (MLVMCT) Project.
  • The Nile Cooperation for Climate Resilience (NCCR) Project, funded by the World Bank.
  • Ongoing initiatives for resource mobilization and partnerships.