MPs demand urgent action to save Lake Bunyonyi from pollution

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Parliament has called for urgent interventions to save Lake Bunyonyi from worsening pollution while raising fresh concerns over poor toilet facilities and human waste disposal around Uganda’s lakes and rivers.

The shadow minister for water and environment, Christine Nakimwero Kaaya, expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s report to Parliament on the state of Lake Bunyonyi. 

Kaaya said the rapid assessment conducted by the Ministry of Water and Environment was “shallow and reactive,” failing to address years of neglect and human activity that have pushed the lake to a tipping point.

“While we commend the Ministry for finally acknowledging this crisis after weeks of public outcry, the government’s report falls short. It does not tackle the deeper, long-term causes of degradation that threaten one of Uganda’s most vital natural assets,” Kaaya (District Woman Representative, Kiboga, NUP) said while presenting a statement to Parliament on Thursday, September 11, 2025.

Lake Bunyonyi, located in the Kigezi subregion, is a major source of water, fisheries and tourism. In recent weeks, the lake has turned brown, emitted a foul smell and developed an oily film with white deposits floating on the surface.

Government response

On Tuesday, September 9, the state minister for water and environment, Aisha Sekindi, briefed Parliament, saying the changes in the lake’s condition were partly caused by a natural turnover process where colder deep waters rise to the surface and mix with warmer waters, often intensified by heavy rains and temperature fluctuations.

She added that the government had planned interventions, including regular monitoring, community sensitisation, upgrading National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) treatment systems, catchment protection, alternative income generation and construction of waste facilities.

Alternative proposals from opposition

Kaaya dismissed the measures as inadequate and delayed. She argued that sensitisation campaigns have repeatedly failed without enforcement, while NWSC upgrades only treat symptoms instead of addressing root causes.

She proposed a set of urgent actions, including the following:

Commissioning an independent scientific study under the oversight of Parliament’s Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

Halting iron ore mining and stone quarrying in the lake’s catchment until environmental audits are completed, with penalties for violations.

Restoring wetlands and shorelines through community-led tree planting and regeneration.

Allocating dedicated national budget funding for soil erosion control structures in upstream communities.

Investing in decentralised waste management facilities, including faecal sludge treatment plants and modern landfills at landing sites.

Requiring lakeside establishments to install on-site treatment systems within six months.

Promoting eco-tourism, sustainable aquaculture and agroforestry to support conservation-linked livelihoods.

Amending the National Environment Management Policy to include strategies for climate-induced lake changes, with parliamentary oversight on implementation.

“The degradation of Lake Bunyonyi is a symptom of wider environmental mismanagement. By adopting stronger measures, we can restore the lake’s ecological integrity, safeguard livelihoods, and set a precedent for sustainable stewardship across Uganda’s water systems,” Kaaya said.

Toilet and sanitation crisis

Adding to the debate, Moses Kabusu (Kyamuswa County, FDC) highlighted the urgent need for better sanitation facilities around lakes and rivers. Kabusu said that most landing sites lack proper waste management, exposing communities to outbreaks of diseases such as cholera.

“It is not laziness for island communities or local governments not to dig or construct pit latrines. The soils are soft, making it difficult. But this poor faecal management is fuelling disease outbreaks,” Kabusu said.

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among directed the Ministry of Water and Environment to return with a clear plan not only for saving Lake Bunyonyi but also for addressing the wider sanitation crisis around water bodies, including the construction of toilets and waste management systems.