MUTUAL effort is needed to preserve the River Nile, leaders from Kenya and Uganda have said.
Uganda’s Water minister Flavia Munaba said that it’s through a joint community initiative that the major water towers can be preserved.
“As the Ugandan government, we have discouraged deforestation and encouraged locals to plant more trees and avoid any human activities that can lead to depletion of the forest cover,” she said.
Munaba was speaking at Lwakhakha Primary School in Manafwa, Uganda, on Sunday during the 25th commemoration of the Nile Basin Initiative.
She said Uganda has initiated projects like the Kagera and Manava irrigation schemes to ensure water is available for domestic and agricultural use.
Water principal secretary James Teko said Kenya and Uganda will come up will a law that will ensure major water towers are preserved.
Teko said the depletion of the Mt Elgon forest cover is the main cause leading to the reduction of the water level in the River Nile basin.
“We are encouraging locals to be on the forefront to preserve our forest covers so that we can maintain the steady flow of water,” he said.
“Let everybody be the goodwill ambassador so that we can conserve our water towers through proper environmental conservation.”
Teko said if proper legislation is put in place, the sister countries will maintain the major water towers through preserving the forest cover, which attracts rain.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka said Sh50 million has been invested in the creation of projects that will facilitate the steady flow of water for domestic and agricultural use.
He cited the Sitabicha Irrigation Scheme and the Cheptais Water Project.
Lusaka said these will save residents of Sirisia constituency from the possible lack of water.
He said the Katomei and Kabkara water dams in the same constituency will ensure residents access clean water to stop the spread of water-borne diseases.
“My government will help residents access clean water for domestic and agricultural use,” Lusaka said.
