Kisumu
6/11/07

POPULATION GROWTH THE HIGHEST AROUND LAKE VICTORIA WHICH IS ALSO GRAVELY POLLUTED.

By Leo Odera Omolo
 
The annual population growth rate at 7 per cent around Lake Victoria in East Africa is the highest in Africa, according to a report released last week.
 
According to the report titled ‘’African Environment Outlook 2 Our Environment Our Wealth’’ Africa’s population was growing at an average rate of 2.5 per cent annually.
 
‘’ We live in the most populated area of Africa,’’ said Charles Sebukeeva, an expert from the United Nations Environment Programme based in Nairobi - Kenya.
 
This is because most urban centers are located around Lake Victoria and opportunities around like fishing have attracted migrants to the area.
 
The UN export that was speaking after the launching of the report by the Ugandan Minister of State for Environment Jessica Eriyo at the hotel Africana in Kampala.He said the soil around Lake Victoria was fertile and highly suitable for agriculture.
 
The report stated that population growth presented a challenge because of the increased demand for food leading to the encroachment on protected areas. ‘’In absence of alternative livelihood opportunities and strategic management of the environment, this rapid population growth and urbanization has resulted into environmental degradation,’’ says the report.
 
It is further warned that the population was higher than the economic growth, which undermines development efforts aimed at improving livelihood and sustainable use of the environment.
 
In the last two decades fresh water resources have been exposed to severe pollution and that has encouraged growth of weeds like water hyacinth on Lake Victoria considerably curtailing its fish resources and fish population.
 
The population increase has also led to massive encroachment on the wetland and the continued disappearance of forests on private land and gazetted forest reserves. This should be taken seriously since the water level has dropped by more than a meter.
 
In addition, the country’s wetland are also still threatened by pollution, unplanned development and agriculture, Aryamarys Mugisha the IRECTOR General of Uganda’s National Environment Management Authority said.
 
Ends.
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com