Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) will on the 14th February 2020 launch the Lake Victoria Basin Integrated Water Resources Management Programme (LVB-IWRMP). This is after the signing of the protocol agreement between the East African Community (EAC) and the Federal Republic of German in 2016 paving way for an Integrated Water Resources Management programme in the five LVB riparian Partner States.
The programme co-funded by the Federal Government of Germany through KfW Development and the European Union (EU) is aimed at improving water quality and availability in Lake Victoria Basin. With a budget of Euro 30 million, the LVB-IWRM Programme is one of the high impact programmes coordinated by LVBC.
Initially no-regret projects under LVB-IWRM will be implemented in Kisumu, Kenya, Kampala, Uganda, Mwanza, Tanzania and Kigali, Rwanda. These “High Priority Investments (HPIs)” are aimed at contributing towards improvement of sanitation, water quality, climate resilience in the Lake Victoria Basin.
LVBC Executive Secretary, Dr. Ally-Said Matano, said the LVB-IWRM Programme is an additional contribution to existing mix of programmatic responses to the environmental challenges within Lake Victoria Basin through a laudable, long-term cooperation between EAC Partner States, the KfW and the EU.
The programme offers innovative solutions to emerging development challenges in Lake Victoria Basin such as sanitation and water quality and availability occasioned by growing urbanization and climate change. For instance, Uganda’s project—artificial wetland in Nakivubo suburb—will contribute to filtering water flowing into Lake Victoria whereas Faecal Sludge Treatment project in Kigali is expected to act as contributions to Rwanda’s sanitation and sustainable environmental interventions.
LVB-IWRM Kisumu project in Kenya will contribute towards reduction of untreated sewage from Manyatta Informal Settlement into Kisat River while in Mwanza, the project targets connecting 7,400 households to Mwanza Wastewater Stabilization Ponds.
The launch of LVB-IWRMP in Kisumu, Kenya will be attended by East African Community Secretary General, Amb. Libérat Mfumukeko, the representative of EU in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, LVBC Executive Secretary, high-ranking officials from KfW and other Development Partners as well as EAC Partner States.
