Member States of the East Africa Community (EAC) have reached an agreement to establish a unified policy for the management of water resources within the Lake Victoria basin. This decision comes in response to ongoing incidents of territorial disputes among EAC member states sharing Lake Victoria.
There have been instances of Kenyan fishermen being arbitrarily arrested and detained in Lake Victoria on accusations of trespassing while fishing. Similar incidents involving fishermen from Tanzania and Uganda have also occurred, leading to diplomatic tensions among the EAC member states.
To address these recurring conflicts, the EAC member states are now working towards implementing new integrated water management policies. These policies aim to enhance the quality management of water, mitigate pollution, preserve the natural ecosystem and biodiversity of the lake, and safeguard other water bodies within the basin.
Dr. Masinde Bwire, the executive secretary of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission, emphasized the importance of harmonizing joint management policies to ensure effective conservation efforts. This sentiment was echoed during the 22nd Sectoral Council of Ministers on Lake Victoria Basin meeting in Kisumu, where Cabinet Ministers and Permanent Secretaries from the seven member states agreed to develop a single policy to address bilateral issues.
The objective is to adopt a unified and cohesive approach to conservation efforts, particularly concerning the declining water quality in Lake Victoria and other water bodies within the basin. Currently, the member states have varying water quality policies, which have hindered conservation efforts in the region.
Pal Mai Deng, the Water Minister of South Sudan, highlighted the significance of Lake Victoria as a crucial resource for the EAC community and called for collective commitment to implementing effective policies. Zachary Njeru, Kenya’s Water Cabinet Secretary, emphasized the importance of sustainably managing Lake Victoria, especially as the EAC partner states pursue blue-economy projects.
