The water levels in Lake Victoria, Uganda’s largest water body surged on Sunday submerging several areas in Entebbe Municipality.
The water from Lake Victoria, which drains into River Nile, Africa’s longest river, also submerged areas in Manyago, Kitubulu villages, Serena Hotel Kigo, Bugonga, Kigungu and Nakiwogo landing sites.
Dr. Caliste Tindimugaya, the Commissioner of Water Regulation and Management in the Water Ministry, warns that flooding could get worse due to the current rains and increasing water inflow from River Kagera and other rivers that drain into Lake Victoria.
“If you continue pouring water in a bucket, it will of course get full. Therefore, for you make to make sure that the water does not overflow you must have an opening. Jinja is the only area where water from Lake Victoria goes out, connecting to the River Nile,” Tindimugaya said.
Apparently, the water levels in Lake Victoria stood at over 13 meters in 1964 compared to 12.6 meters in February and 12.8 meters last month.
The Commissioner affirmed that the Water Ministry has directed Eskom, which controls Owen Falls Dam in Jinja, to gradually release more water from Lake Victoria.
“When the water levels Victoria level goes up that is the only point where we can actually try to release on the level,” he said.
“But there is a limit to be considered; if the limit is ignored, the people around River Nile will also have problems. You may end up harming the lives of people around Lake Victoria and those on the Nile. That is why we do it incrementally and balanced.”
He says they are currently able to release around 2000 cubic meters of water per second because of the huge volumes of water.
On the other hand, Samson Semakula, the Inspector National Environment Management Authority-NEMA in charge of Entebbe Municipality, said there is need for developers to respect the 200-metre buffer zone.
Semakula has advised residents and people along Lake Victoria shores to relocate because of the projected increase in the water levels.
Contributed by Ahmed Wetaka, Kampala-Uganda
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