The commissioner, water resources planning and regulation,
Dr. Callist Tindimugaya reveals plans by govt to start
demarcating shipping routes on all lakes in the country following funding to a
tune ofUSD.80M from the World Bank.
Callist says, the activity is to be
done in collaboration with the ministry of works and transport under the Lake
Victoria environmental management phase three programme geared at regulating
activities done on the lakes.
The commissioner further reveals that activities like cage
fishing, sand mining among others are being carried out on Uganda’s lakes
noting that most of these activities are being done in poor dangerous areas on
the lakes.
Routes on Lake Kyoga, Albert, Victoria and others are to undergo
this programme yet to be approved by the end of this year and technocrats hope
to kick start the demarcation works in 2020 and will go on for the next three
years.
Ugandans always move on water with no clear and demarcated
routes to use which has led to water accidents leading to loss of lives and
property.
Uganda last carried out a serious hydrographic survey in 2007 and
this involved measuring the depth of waters on Uganda’s lakes and with the
coming of this process next year will give Ug9andans who sail on lakes clear
routes where to pass.
The last serious water accident the country witnessed
involved the sinking of MV-Tempralast year near Mutima beach
in Mukono leaving over 30 lives lost with few survivors.
END