East Africa Community partner states have been urged to prioritise intervention measures aimed at safeguarding and promoting sustainable use of Lake Victoria resources in the wake of increased Climate change threats.
This comes even as the region is currently experiencing flooding that has rendered thousands of households homeless and destroyed property.
Lake Victoria has also experienced rising water levels in parts of Kenya and Uganda.
Uganda's First Deputy Prime Minister Kadaga Rebecca Kadaga called on leaders from both countries to collaborate with experts and relevant stakeholders to address the problem.
Kadaga also called for strict measures against pollutants of Lake Victoria, the second largest fresh water lake in the world.
"Climate change and pollution are emerging issues which cannot be overemphasised by the partner states hence the need for concerted regional efforts to mitigate the various adverse effects," she said.
Kadaga emphasised Uganda's commitment to supporting shared resources in the region, adding that policy issues affecting partner states must be harmonised.
The Deputy PM made the remarks during her visit at the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) headquarters in Kisumu where she had gone to discuss progress of implementation of various projects and programmes across the region.
LVBC is an organ of the EAC and is coordinating the implementation of various projects and programmes in the East African partner states.
"I pledge my commitment to ensure issues raised by the commission in areas like climate resilient Agriculture, challenges and opportunities are adequately presented and addressed by the member state Council," Kadaga said.
LVBC executive secretary Dr Masinde Bwire called for the strengthening of coordination in the management of shared resources.
Bwire stated that some of the issues he tabled before Kadaga were issues on pollution of Lake Victoria.
He said the lake was a shared resource and must be protected by all partner states.
Bwire also noted that the issue of floods ravaging parts of East Africa must also be a concern to all the partner states.
"The presence of the DPM here today signifies the importance of regional intergration. As a commission, we will remain steadfast in delivering our mandates to the people of the entire community,” he said.
The Deputy PM and LVBC executive secretary also paid a courtesy call to Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o.
Nyongo said the discussions revolved around potential cooperation in developing the lakefront, resolving border disputes affecting fishermen, enhancing road connectivity to Uganda and tackling pollution in Lake Victoria.
Kadaga was accompanied by among others, Sam Cheptoris, Minister of Water and Environment and Edith Mwanje, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of East African Community Affairs.
