Government Requires UGX 5.5bn for Flood Defenses as Lake Victoria Water Levels Surge

Minister of Water and Environment, Sam Cheptoris, has issued a stark warning to communities living along Lake Victoria’s shores and riverbanks, urging them to evacuate due to record-high water levels in the country’s largest lake. The water level in Lake Victoria has risen to 13.66 meters, surpassing levels seen in recent years.

Minister Cheptoris attributed the rising water levels to heavy rains associated with El Niño, which have been affecting the region. He emphasized that Lake Victoria receives water from 23 rivers originating from neighboring countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi, even when there is no rain in Uganda itself.

“At the moment we are at 13.66 meters, If you recall in 2020 when we had a lot of rains, the highest we reached was 13.50” he said

As a precautionary measure, the government has been compelled to release excess water from Lake Victoria into the River Nile, which feeds into other lake basins across East Africa. This action raises concerns about potential floods downstream.

Bariega Akankwasah, Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), emphasized the urgency of evacuating individuals residing in wetlands, riverbanks, and lake shores. He cited climate change-induced factors such as deforestation, soil erosion, and encroachment on wetlands as contributors to the escalating water levels.

“Vacate the wetlands, riverbanks, and lake shores before the environment enforces the law in addition to the government. The fishing communities are mostly illegal and they should evacuate. The only time to do fisheries as an industry is to sell their fish on landing sites then go back home when not fishing.” Bariega said

Adding that: “We call upon Ugandans not to wait for what happened to our brothers and sisters in Kenya and Brazil,” Akankwasah warned, stressing the need to prioritize lives and property by vacating high-risk areas promptly.

According to Minister Cheptoris, the government has earmarked and approved significant funding of  5.5 billion Ugandan Shillings for the construction of protective walls to mitigate the impact of rising water levels. This investment aims to safeguard vulnerable communities and vital infrastructure along Lake Victoria’s shores.

“We expect more rain and therefore we must protect some of our infrastructure by building gabions.” he stated

These developments coincide with preparations for the International World Environment Day on June 5, 2024, with Uganda’s main celebrations themed around “Land Restoration for Climate Resilience.”

Minister Cheptoris explains that this year’s theme emphasizes the imperative to restore land for climate resilience, aligning with Uganda’s government objectives outlined in the 10-year plan for environmental and natural resource restoration (2021). This vision harmonizes with Uganda’s broader national aspirations, including the National Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan.

Minister Cheptoris stated the government’s commitment to environmental restoration with significant efforts to address the planetary crisis of climate change by implementing biodiversity laws and tackling pollution and land degradation. One key strategy being employed is reforestation, where native trees are planted in their natural habitats to restore forest cover,

Others include enhancing carbon circulation, and promoting biodiversity  agroforestry, and wetland rehabilitation as key strategies to combat climate change and restore biodiversity.

The Minister said by prioritizing reforestation and other nature-based solutions, Uganda aims to combat climate change, preserve critical ecosystems, and secure a more resilient future for its people and wildlife.

“Forest cover loss in Uganda has been reversed from 9.5 percent in 2015 to now 13.3 percent. Uganda is also doing agro forestry where the government promotes integration of trees and shrubs into aricultural landscapes to improve soil fertility, reduce erosion and increase biodiversity rehabiiltating wetlands by evacuating  encroaches wetlands through evictions and prosecution of encroachers.The wetland cover has appreciated from 8.5 percent to now 9.3 percent of the national land surface” He said

Despite progress in reversing forest cover loss and rehabilitating wetlands, the urgent call for evacuation is premised on the immediate threat posed by rising water levels. The government’s appeal for proactive measures reveals the importance of climate resilience and environmental protection in safeguarding communities across Uganda.