The Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) is located in the upper reaches of the Nile River basin and comprises one of the world’s greatest complexes of lakes, wetlands, and rivers. The basin has a catchment area of approximately 194,200km2 traversing through five East African Countries i.e. Tanzania (44%); Kenya (22%); Uganda (16%); Rwanda (11%) and Burundi (7%). The basin plays a major ecological, social and economic role and is central to the development and regional integration of the East Africa Community (EAC).
The Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) is located in the upper reaches of the Nile River basin and comprises one of the world’s greatest complexes of lakes, wetlands, and rivers. The basin has a catchment area of approximately 194,200km2 traversing through five East African Countries i.e. Tanzania (44%); Kenya (22%); Uganda (16%); Rwanda (11%) and Burundi (7%). The basin plays a major ecological, social and economic role and is central to the development and regional integration of the East Africa Community (EAC). This is due to its rich resources such as fishery, biodiversity, extensive networks of rivers and wetlands, forests, fertile soils, wildlife, minerals, tourism, multimodal transport and communication. For instance, the basin provides a myriad of environmental goods and services to approximately 45 million inhabitants’ majority of who derive their livelihood directly or indirectly rich natural resources around the basin. The basin is therefore considered a unique area especially due to its environmental, cultural, scientific, socioeconomic, immense natural resources and huge investment potential.
Within the LVB, Lake Victoria which is the world’s second largest and Africa’s largest freshwater lake is one of the most important landmarks. The lake covers an area of 68,800km2 spanning 400km North-South and 240km East-West. It has a shoreline of 3,460km and is a relatively shallow water body with an average depth of 40meters while the deepest point is 80meters. This trans-boundary asset is shared by Kenya (6%), Tanzania (51%) and Uganda (43%). Over 80% of water in the Lake Victoria comes directly from rainfall while the rest comes from tributary runoff from Kagera, Mara, Simiyu, Gurumeti, Yala, Nyando, Migori and Sondu-Miriu rivers. Water in Lake Victoria is lost through very high evapotranspiration and one major outlet, the Nile River which is the Africa’s longest river.
With its vast expanse of water and breathtaking landscapes along its shores, Lake Victoria is a natural symbol of unity and potential wealth for the surrounding countries. The lake and its tributaries support a multitude of ecosystem services, and the economies of the riparian countries. This includes fisheries, tourism, agriculture, forestry, water, hydro power generation, industry and transport among others. Besides the lake has other added values that include the climate modulation in the region and richness in biodiversity which makes it the largest inland water fishery sanctuary in East Africa.
