Algae Bloom Threatens Lake Victoria’s Ecosystem, Livelihoods

Summary:

• A harmful algae bloom has spread across Lake Victoria’s shores in Kalangala District, disrupting local fishing and water usage. The algae, caused by pollution, has led to foul-smelling water and health concerns. Fishermen report reduced catches, especially in Tilapia, and many residents are unable to use the water for domestic purposes. Efforts to improve waste management and protect the lake are ongoing. Lake Victoria, crucial for millions, is increasingly threatened by pollution.

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A large bloom of green algae resembling plant life has spread across the shores of Lake Victoria in Kalangala District, causing alarm among local fishermen and raising significant health concerns.

The Mweena Landing Site, a key business area, and the Lutoboka Landing Site, known for its tourism, are the hardest-hit regions, with thick algae covering the shorelines at both locations.

Ben Mbaziira, the secretary for defense at Mweena Village, shared that the local women, who rely on the lake for water, are particularly affected. “With the algae invasion, the water is no longer safe for drinking, cooking, or bathing. It has a foul smell and causes skin irritations,” he explained.

The algae bloom has also disrupted the operations of passenger and cargo boats at the landing site, as many young people who depend on loading and unloading boats are now avoiding contact with the water for fear of health complications, severely impacting their livelihoods.

In Wakiso District, Swydi Kayongo, the chairperson of the Kasenyi Landing Site, noted that the algae had also affected his area. Fishermen, particularly those catching Tilapia, have reported a significant decline in their catches. “Fishing is difficult due to the foul-smelling water. Sometimes, the waves help disperse the algae, and fishing resumes briefly, but it doesn’t last long before the algae returns,” he said.

Allan Mutagubya, a senior entomologist in Kalangala, attributed the algae bloom to increased pollution from human and industrial waste. “Poor waste management in Kalangala has fueled the growth of the green algae, which depletes oxygen and blocks sunlight, suffocating aquatic life. This is why fishermen often find dead fish floating on the surface,” he explained.

Rajab Semakula, the Kalangala District chairperson, said that efforts are underway to improve waste management and prevent oil palm farmers from encroaching on the lake’s buffer zones. “We are working with environmentalists and oil palm organizations to reduce further damage to the lake. We’re also implementing better waste disposal solutions on the islands to prevent both human and agricultural waste from reaching the water,” he said.

A 2019-2020 investigation by Nation Media Group, in collaboration with the University of Nairobi, found that human activities are severely threatening Lake Victoria, with contamination making the fish unsafe for consumption. Samples were taken from key pollution hotspots across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, including Kampala, Jinja, and the Masese Landing Site.

Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest freshwater lake, supports the livelihoods of more than 40 million people, according to the World Bank.

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