By OUR CORRESPONDENT
The 14th edition of Mara Day will be marked on 15th September in Butiama District, Mara Region of Tanzania.
The celebrations will bring together thousands of stakeholders from across East Africa and beyond to celebrate and recommit to the protection of the Mara River.
Organized by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), an institution of the East African Community (EAC), the event will run under the theme “Protect Mara River: Preserve Life” or “Hifadhi Mto Mara: Linda Uhai” in Kiswahili.
The celebrations will include a range of activities designed to raise awareness and strengthen conservation efforts, according to Lake Victoria Basin Commission Executive Secretary Masinde Bwire.
Bwire said a scientific conference will be held on 14th September at the Mwalimu Nyerere University of Science and Technology, bringing together scholars, policymakers, government representatives, students, and industry experts.
The ES revealed that more than sixty abstracts have been submitted by participants from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Norway.
He said the presentations will focus on sub-themes connected to conserving the Mara ecosystem and safeguarding its future.
The climax of the event will be on 15th September at the Mwenge Grounds in Butiama town, noted the Executive Secretary.
Ministers and Cabinet Secretaries from both Kenya and Tanzania are expected to attend, underlining the importance of the river to the two countries.
Bwire added that over 100 exhibitors from both sides of the border have confirmed participation, showcasing innovations, community projects, and conservation initiatives.
Other highlights of the celebrations include tree planting exercises, exhibitions, and sporting activities.
The Mara ecosystem is one of the most important natural systems in the world, stretching across Kenya and Tanzania.
It supports the Maasai Mara National Reserve and forms the northern part of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, famous for hosting the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles cross the Mara River in search of pasture.
It is also home to lions, elephants, rhinos, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, and over 450 bird species, making it one of the planet’s richest biodiversity hotspots.
Beyond its ecological significance, the Mara River sustains local and national economies through tourism, which generates millions of dollars every year for Kenya and Tanzania.
It creates jobs in hospitality, conservation, and park management, while community-based tourism projects provide sustainable livelihoods for local people.
The celebrations are also aligned with the Lake Victoria Integrated Water Resources Management Programme (LVB IWRMP), which promotes sustainable use of water, land, and related resources. Integrated management is crucial to keep water flowing to key conservation areas like the Serengeti National Park and Maasai Mara National Reserve. Without these measures, the Mara Basin faces threats such as overuse, pollution, and habitat loss that would endanger wildlife and communities alike.
Part of this effort includes the development of the Lake Victoria Basin Water Information System (LVB-WIS), which will provide reliable data to guide policy and investment decisions. The system will help visualize the impact of climate change, deforestation, and pollution, ensuring that stakeholders have access to accurate information to protect the river.
Mara Day was first declared in 2012 by the 10th Sectoral Council of Ministers for the Lake Victoria Basin, held in Kigali, Rwanda.
The date of 15th September was chosen to coincide with the iconic Great Migration. The event is celebrated every year in Kenya and Tanzania on a rotational basis. Last year, it was hosted in Sekenani, Narok County, Kenya. Past celebrations have strengthened regional cooperation, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Kenya and Tanzania on shared water resources and the creation of the Mara River Transboundary Water Users’ Forum.
This year’s celebration will be supported by several partners, including the European Union, the German Government through KfW and GIZ, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and KCB Bank Tanzania. Stakeholders from both Kenya and Tanzania are also actively supporting the event.
With dignitaries, policymakers, scholars, conservationists, and community members expected to attend, the Mara Day celebration in Butiama will once again remind the region and the world of the vital role of the Mara River and the need to protect it for future generations.
