Restore and Conserve Lake Victoria Shores and Wetlands in Mayuge District in Eastern Uganda
Date Published: 2/28/2025
Mayuge district in Eastern Uganda with Lake Victoria shore Area Coverage of approximately 5,000 Hectares, has over 70% (3500 Hectares) degraded and as a result, affecting the quality of water, life and land all of which negatively impacting on the quality of life. Like many other districts in Uganda, Mayuge has lost over 95% of its vital wetlands, swamps and natural forests to agriculture, settlements, lumbering and other human subsistence and commercial activities.
This has led to erosion and siltation of Lake Victoria and depletion of vital flora that includes Ficus, Makharmia, Albizia, Phragmititis reeds, Marshlands, Melicia exelcia and fauna including Grey crowned cranes which is endangered (IUCN, 2016), the Shoebills which is vulnerable (IUCN, 2017), and other species that locally are threatened with habitat and species loss like the Egrets, White eagles, Buffalos, Bush and Water bucks, Warthogs, Hippos, Vervet monkeys, crocodiles and Wild pigs in Uganda and therefore targeted in this project.
Most Islands on the lake are now bare; with no vegetation and the South Busoga Forest home to most of the above endangered wildlife species has lost over 70% of its original cover, exposing the species to conflicts with humans and killing as their range extend to communal lands after forest loss. This has aggravated extinction threat locally to the species. There is need to address human wildlife conflicts experienced by the endangered wildlife species above and, continuing loss and degradation of their lake shore and forest habitat, to enable restoration and conservation.
To address the dire situation holistically, the capacity of the communities to conserve and co-exist harmoniously with the wildlife species have to be strengthened. This can be done through training, awareness raising and promoting economically beneficial communities’ participation in restoration of the habitats and populations of the wildlife species. Mayuge district approved a Local Governments Environment and Natural Resources Management Ordinance 2012, which provides opportunity for implementation of such conservation projects.
Our wish
Our wish is to restore 3500 hectares of degraded Lake Victoria shores in Mayuge District. Development Alert- https://da.or.ug/ under the Environment Conservation theme, wishes to raise USD 3000 to establish tree nurseries to raise 20,000 indigenous high energy value tree indigenous species per year to be planted by Lake Victoria adjacent communities. In addition, the project will build the capacity of 500 households as change agents annually to promote restoration of Lake Victoria Shores and wetlands in Mayuge District.
This has led to erosion and siltation of Lake Victoria and depletion of vital flora that includes Ficus, Makharmia, Albizia, Phragmititis reeds, Marshlands, Melicia exelcia and fauna including Grey crowned cranes which is endangered (IUCN, 2016), the Shoebills which is vulnerable (IUCN, 2017), and other species that locally are threatened with habitat and species loss like the Egrets, White eagles, Buffalos, Bush and Water bucks, Warthogs, Hippos, Vervet monkeys, crocodiles and Wild pigs in Uganda and therefore targeted in this project.
Most Islands on the lake are now bare; with no vegetation and the South Busoga Forest home to most of the above endangered wildlife species has lost over 70% of its original cover, exposing the species to conflicts with humans and killing as their range extend to communal lands after forest loss. This has aggravated extinction threat locally to the species. There is need to address human wildlife conflicts experienced by the endangered wildlife species above and, continuing loss and degradation of their lake shore and forest habitat, to enable restoration and conservation.
To address the dire situation holistically, the capacity of the communities to conserve and co-exist harmoniously with the wildlife species have to be strengthened. This can be done through training, awareness raising and promoting economically beneficial communities’ participation in restoration of the habitats and populations of the wildlife species. Mayuge district approved a Local Governments Environment and Natural Resources Management Ordinance 2012, which provides opportunity for implementation of such conservation projects.
Our wish
Our wish is to restore 3500 hectares of degraded Lake Victoria shores in Mayuge District. Development Alert- https://da.or.ug/ under the Environment Conservation theme, wishes to raise USD 3000 to establish tree nurseries to raise 20,000 indigenous high energy value tree indigenous species per year to be planted by Lake Victoria adjacent communities. In addition, the project will build the capacity of 500 households as change agents annually to promote restoration of Lake Victoria Shores and wetlands in Mayuge District.
