By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 21 May 2026 - Regional leaders have issued a stark warning over the future of Lake Victoria, saying pollution, climate change and poor sanitation are pushing Africa’s largest freshwater lake towards ecological decline unless East African states adopt a more coordinated response.
The warning came during the inaugural Lake Victoria Day celebrations in Mwanza, where policymakers, donors and environmental experts gathered to confront growing concerns over the sustainability of the basin that supports millions of people across East Africa.
Speaking during a high-level development partners’ forum, Alfred Okot said the lake basin remained too important to be managed through isolated national policies. He described Lake Victoria as a shared economic and environmental lifeline now facing mounting pressure from human activity and climate shocks.
Dr Okot warned that worsening pollution and environmental degradation were threatening water quality and livelihoods across the region. He called for long-term financing and stronger regional partnerships to confront what he termed a growing ecological emergency.
“We are looking for long-term partnerships with predictable financing that can allow us to address pollution, environmental degradation, climate change adaptation and improve the livelihoods of people living within the basin,” he said.
His remarks underscored rising anxiety among East African governments over the fragile state of the lake, which remains central to fishing, transport, agriculture and trade within the region.
The basin supports more than 40 million people and is increasingly viewed as both an environmental asset and a geopolitical concern.
Lake Victoria Basin Commission Executive Secretary Masinde Bwire acknowledged that some progress had been made, particularly in maritime safety and sanitation projects. He pointed to the construction of Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centres in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania as evidence of growing regional cooperation on lake governance.
Yet Dr Bwire admitted that financial constraints continue to undermine efforts to reverse environmental damage within the basin. He appealed to development partners for innovative financing and technical support, warning that current interventions remain insufficient against the scale of the crisis.
“As much as the commission has made some steps in addressing challenges within Lake Victoria Basin, our mandate is still limited by funding,” he said.
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“We need partners and donors to help us with innovative ideas and financing to tackle pollution and improve livelihoods within the basin.”
Particular concern was raised over the sharp decline in fish stocks.
Dr Bwire warned that several fish species could disappear within the next fifty years if urgent action is not taken.
Pollution and deteriorating water quality were identified as the principal drivers behind the decline, threatening an industry that sustains millions of households across East Africa.
The forum also saw the launch of two major regional policy instruments aimed at strengthening evidence-based environmental management. The Status of the Basin Report, sponsored by GIZ, and the Lake Victoria Basin Water Information Strategy, supported by KfW, are expected to improve regional monitoring and disaster preparedness.
Officials say the new information systems will provide real-time data on floods, droughts and rising water levels, while strengthening early warning mechanisms across the basin.
The meeting in Mwanza reflected a growing recognition that Lake Victoria’s future may depend less on national politics and more on whether East African states can sustain collective action against environmental decline.