Kadaga Visits Kisumu to Address Environmental Challenges in the Lake Victoria Basin
Frank Semata 
The 1DPM/Minister for East African Community Affairs Uganda, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, embarked on a one-day work visit to Kisumu, Kenya, focusing on bolstering regional cooperation and addressing environmental concerns within the East African Community (EAC).
The visit commenced with a courtesy call to the County Governor of Kisumu, H.E Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyongo’o, at the county’s headquarters. Discussions centered on the standardization of university courses and teaching methodologies across the EAC region.
Governor Nyongo’o highlighted Kenya's efforts to combat environmental degradation by eliminating plastic bags and announced plans for further measures, including the elimination of plastic water bottles.
Joined by the Minister for Water and Environment, Hon. Sam Cheptoris, and a technical staff team from MEACA-Uganda, led by Permanent Secretary Mrs. Edith Mwanje, Rt. Hon. Kadaga proceeded to inspect the ongoing construction of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) headquarters.
The tour aimed to assess progress and prioritize sustainable development initiatives within the basin.
Minister Kadaga officiated a meeting to review the progress and scope of multilateral projects managed by the LVBC on behalf of the EAC.
Key challenges to sustainable development were highlighted, including over-fishing, water quality, fluctuating water levels, encroachment on littoral zones, land degradation, deforestation, sediment loads, climate change-induced floods and droughts, and rapid population growth.
In her address, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga affirmed her commitment to addressing the identified challenges, promising to follow up on the issues raised and seek immediate solutions.
