MWANZA, TANZANIA – June 17, 2025 – A critical cross-border water sampling exercise aimed at comprehensively assessing pollution levels and the spread of invasive species in Lake Victoria has officially commenced in Mwanza, Tanzania. This collaborative initiative brings together scientists and environmental experts from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania in a concerted effort to safeguard the vital freshwater lake.
Spearheaded by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), the project receives crucial technical and financial backing from the German Development Agency (GIZ) under its “EAC for Nature” programme. The regional effort is designed to generate reliable, science-based data that will inform conservation strategies and environmental policy decisions across the Lake Victoria Basin, an area that sustains the livelihoods of over 40 million people within the East African Community (EAC).
Dr. Masinde Bwire, Executive Secretary of the LVBC, emphasized the exercise’s pivotal role in evaluating the lake’s overall health, pinpointing pollution hotspots, and assessing the presence and impact of invasive aquatic plants, such as the pervasive water hyacinth. “The study’s findings will be vital in guiding the conservation of Lake Victoria’s biodiversity and ecological balance,” Dr. Bwire stated.
In an interview with the Kenya News Agency (KNA), Dr. Bwire explained that beyond mere monitoring, the initiative aims to equip the region with actionable data to drive effective interventions. He confirmed that water samples are being meticulously collected from 46 pre-identified sites across the three partner states.
The extensive monitoring program will examine a wide array of physical, chemical, and biological parameters. These include key nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, silica, alkalinity, and total suspended solids. On-site measurements are also being conducted for pH levels, water temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and light penetration (PAR). Geographic coordinates and depth profiles are being recorded at each sampling point to enhance spatial analysis.
Further detailed analysis includes major ions such as calcium, magnesium, and chloride, alongside Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), a crucial indicator of organic pollution. At selected sites, samples from both surface and bottom layers of the lake are being screened for toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, mercury, and lead. Biological indicators, specifically phytoplankton species composition and abundance, are also under scrutiny to assess algal activity and the risk of harmful algal blooms, which often signal nutrient pollution.
Dr. Bwire noted that this comprehensive data collection will provide an unprecedented “snapshot of the lake’s health,” offering scientifically grounded insights essential for sustainable environmental governance across the region.
The joint water quality assessment underscores the shared responsibility of EAC member states in protecting Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest freshwater lake. The lake faces increasing threats from pollution, climate change, and unsustainable land-use practices. The findings of this crucial survey are expected to significantly inform future policy development, guide regional environmental projects, and empower community-level conservation initiatives.
