The 22nd Sectoral Council of Ministers for Lake Victoria Basin(SECOM-LVB) has adopted and declared November 29th as Lake Victoria Day Celebrations.
The inaugural celebrations will be held in Mwanza, Tanzania.
The ministerial session chaired by Pal Mai Deng, Minister for Water and Irrigation from South Sudan commended the Lake Victoria Basin Commission for developing the idea of celebrating the day.
Lake Victoria Day, whose idea came from the 10th meeting of the regional policy steering committee, is expected to be held annually at the regional level in the five partner states on a rotational basis.
The proposed theme for the inaugural Lake Victoria Day is “Revive and Thrive: Uniting for Lake Victoria’s Future”.
The event will feature an array of activities including development partner forums, and scientific conferences discussing issues like sanitation, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), Climate Change, Capacity development of LVBC, and sustainable development within LVB.
Deng said:
“We are happy to be part of the community and the event will help in creating awareness of the greatest resource which is the Lake and brainstorm and look into the challenges and possible solutions.”
Lake Victoria Basin Commission Executive Secretary Masinde Bwire said:
“This event will be important in passing crucial messages on the effects of Lake Pollution that have been a big problem in the region and has greatly affected the lives of millions of people.”
The sectoral council of ministers also took note of the progress made in assenting and gazettement of the LVBC Act 2022 and directed the secretariat to expedite the customization of necessary regulations to its operationalization.
The session also adopted reports of the 10th Regional Policy Steering Committee meeting for pipeline projects, resource mobilization, and partnerships and directed the secretariat to facilitate the implementation of recommendations.
The Kenyan delegation was led by Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Zachariah Njeru and his Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs counterpart, Salim Mvurya.
Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Water, Maryprisca Mahundi, Uganda’s Minister for Environment, Ephraim Kamuntu, Burundi’s Agriculture Minister, Prosper Dodiko, and Rwanda’s Environment Permanent Secretary (PS), Patrick Karera.
