The Lake Victoria State of the Basin Report (2025) has officially been released.
The report was unveiled during the Development Partners Round table convened as part of the inaugural Lake Victoria Day celebrations held in Mwanza, United Republic of Tanzania, from 18–21 May 2026.
A preview edition of the report was first launched during a high-level side event at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, on 13 November 2025.
The report provides comprehensive insights into the ecological health, socio-economic dynamics, and governance trends within the Lake Victoria Basin, which is home to more than 45 million people across the five East African Community (EAC) Partner States.
Positioned as a landmark evidence-based blueprint, the State of the Basin Report bridges local realities with regional policy making by providing a shared platform for both national and trans boundary action. It informs investment decisions and national strategies on water quality, ecosystem and biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and infrastructure development, bringing together environmental, socio-economic, and governance data into a unified vision for sustainable development.
The report is designed to empower communities, development partners, and policymakers to collectively address challenges such as climate change, population growth, and environmental degradation, while safeguarding the basin’s natural resources as the foundation for sustainable development.
It also highlights the impact of German technical and financial cooperation. The report draws on data from the Water Information System (WIS), financed by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW under the “Lake Victoria Basin Integrated Water Resources Management Programme, Phases I–III,” with a total investment of EUR 60 million.
The system has become a critical tool supporting the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) in coordinating sustainable development and resource management across the basin.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Environment of the Republic of Uganda, Hon. Dr. Alfred Okidi, joined other dignitaries in officially unveiling the report to the public.
Speaking during the launch, Hon. Dr. Okidi stated:
“This report unveiled today highlights the myriad challenges facing the basin that require critical and urgent interventions among the EAC Partner States.”
