The continued heavy rains that kick started by the start of this year have seen an overwhelmingly outburst in the amount of water volume in Uganda’s water bodies. This has become more than a fear than a positive. Not only have the nearby infrastructure been submerged but also thousands of people living and working by the lake’s shores have been displaced, businesses interrupted and much property destroyed. This is after the lake’s water moved more than 13.12 metres ashore, the second highest on record since it rose to 13.46 metres in 1964.
According to the Office of the Prime Minister, over 7,000 people living around the Lake Victoria have been displaced from their homes since late January this year after water flooded the dry lake shores. The most affected communities are those on the lake shores and surrounding islands in the lake, with some risking being fully submerged.
Commenting about this, Uganda’s Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Musa Echweru, said that about 1,000 people living on such islands have been relocated.
“We have provided food and tents for shelter, and although we have advised that these islands are not safe for human habitation, many are refusing to be relocated to the mainland,” said Mr Echweru.
Uganda’s water and environment minister Sam Cheptoris further warned that the situation could pose a threat to Uganda’s hydropower plants.
On another note, last Saturday evening, a ferry with an unknown number of passengers capsized on the Kenyan side of Lake Victoria. This was also attributed to the risen water levels in the lake that caused irregular turbulence.
On Friday, Uganda issued an alert over Lake Victoria’s water levels that have surged to their highest level in more than half a century after about eight months of relentless downpours.
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