‘Lakes are our life’: Protecting Uganda’s shared lifeline

However, behind these daily activities is an increasingly real threat: plastic and other waste entering Lake Albert.

Leaders of local fishing communities warn that without immediate action, pollution could endanger fish stocks and, as a consequence, the lives of future generations.

Like local fishermen, the UN has also warned of a decline in freshwater species due to pollution and environmental degradation in recent decades.

Surface waters are shrinking or disappearing altogether in a region home to 93.1 million people, while more than a quarter are becoming increasingly murky due to pollution, according to 2024 report by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) and PBB-Air.

In celebration World Lakes Daywhich is celebrated every year on August 27, Solomon Wamara, head of fishermen at Lake Albert, said the community could not continue to view the lake as a source of livelihood while leaving it filled with rubbish.

“This is the right time to highlight the threats facing this lake which is our lifeblood,” he said UN News.

Plastic threatens fish breeding grounds

For Mr Wamara, plastic waste is not just a sanitation issue. This directly impacts the future of fisheries and food security.

He said that if plastic bags and other rubbish are thrown away, they will eventually end up in the lake, which can affect where fish breed and grow.

But pollution doesn’t stop at the lakeshore.

Agricultural activities and waste disposal often carry waste from the Wambaya, Waki ​​and Nguse rivers into Lake Albert, Mr Wamara said.

“River pollution has an impact on fish breeding grounds and also food security. These rivers are important for the survival of fish and the people who depend on the lakes,” he said. “The lake is our life.”

Community responsibility

Communities must change the way they care for lakes, according to Mr Wamara.

He urged people living around Lake Albert to stop throwing rubbish – especially plastic – and participate in environmental sanitation activities.

Mr Wamara supports monthly clean-up campaigns and says the efforts should be expanded and involve more communities.

Conservation efforts must also consider the financial conditions of communities whose livelihoods depend on the lake, he said.

Rather than imposing excessive taxes on traditional fishermen, he said authorities should help them to continue fishing sustainably and in accordance with the law.

Shared resources

Godwin Angalia, Kikuube district commissioner, who also comes from a fishing community and was once a fisherman, said the government saw the lake as an important pillar of the local economy and community life.

“As a government, we value lakes because they provide life for millions of citizens,” said Angalia. “They also provide a variety of resources that support the community.”

However, Lake Albert faces several challenges, including environmental pollution and illegal fishing.

According to Mr. Angalia, the government continues to take steps to combat pollution caused by human activities while also working to protect the water sources that feed the lake.

“Of course rivers like the Nguse and Wambaya are polluted,” he said. “In addition, the Bugoma Forest is vital to the life of Lake Albert and the creatures within it.”

Mr Angalia said efforts were being made to protect the Bugoma Forest and the rivers that feed Lake Albert from damage and pollution.

He also appealed to village leaders to be vigilant and report people who pollute the environment or damage lake resources to the authorities.

The role of fishermen

In addition to government action, Anglia said society must be part of the solution.

The government has begun forming indigenous community committees that will help manage fisheries in their territories.

Mr Angalia said the participation of fishermen was important because they were familiar with the lake environment and understood how existing resources could be utilized without depleting them.

“We fishermen know that we should not catch young fish,” he said. “We use natural and environmentally friendly fishing methods.”

For Mr Angalia, fishermen are at the center of discussions around conservation, not only as part of the problem, but also as important stewards of the resources they rely on.

The future is in everyone’s hands

As human activity increases, pressure on the Lake Albert ecosystem also increases.

For local residents, the message is clear: the lake cannot be protected by the government alone.

If Lake Albert wants to continue to maintain the food, income and livelihoods of people like Mr Wamara, then protecting it is not an option, but a necessity.

“If we protect the lake, we protect our lives and those of future generations,” he said.