Uganda, Lake Victoria: fishermen cautioned on hygiene, diseases

Kampala — POOR sanitation among communities living around Lake Victoria poses a threat to their lives, a water ministry official has warned. “Poor hygiene among most fishing communities is shocking. If not addressed quickly, cholera might break out,” said Richard Okonga, the assistant commissioner for international and transboundary water resources management.

He said the problem was made worse by fishermen who had refused to use ecological sanitation toilets (Ecosan toilets). “Most fishermen say it is time wasting and anti-cultural to pour wood ash in the toilet after using it. So they have resorted to using the bushes,” he said.

Okonga was speaking at a workshop organised by the East African Communities Organisation for the Management of Lake Victoria Resources (ECOVIC) at Hotel Triangle in Kampala on Thursday

Ecosan toilets are common in Rwamika, Bukakata and other landing sites on Lake Victoria. Unlike pit-latrines, they separate urine from faeces.

The ECOVIC regional coordinator, Keefa Kaweesa, expressed concern that poor sanitation was affecting the quality of water and fish stock.

“Lake Victoria supports more than 30 million people, but its fish stock has reduced from 1.9 million tonnes in 1999 to 370,000 tonnes currently. Even revenue from the fish is reducing drastically.”

Source: Francis Kagolo, New Vision / allAfrica.com, 04 May 2009