By OUR CORRESPONDENT
The inaugural Lake Victoria Day will be held on May 21 in Mwanza, Tanzania, organisers have confirmed.
Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) is set to commemorate a major milestone in regional environmental cooperation with the launch of the day, an annual event designated to be celebrated every 21st May.
The decision was made during the 23rd Ordinary Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Lake Victoria Basin, which recognized the importance of establishing a dedicated regional platform to promote the sustainable management of Lake Victoria and its basin.
LVBC is a specialized institution of the EAC mandated to coordinate sustainable development in the basin, has been entrusted with the responsibility of organizing and coordinating this annual celebration.
Mwanza is strategically located on the southern shores of Lake Victoria and serves as a key hub for regional trade, fisheries, and the blue economy.
The choice of Mwanza reflects the region’s central role in advancing sustainable lake-based livelihoods and regional economic integration among EAC Partner States.
The proposed theme for the inaugural celebration, “Shared Waters, Shared Future: Uniting for a Sustainable Lake Victoria Basin,” emphasizes the shared responsibility of the region in safeguarding the lake while sustainably harnessing its resources for inclusive socio-economic development.
The theme further highlights the growing significance of the blue economy and climate resilience as strategic pathways for ensuring long-term prosperity within the Lake Victoria Basin.
Lake Victoria Day is intended to raise public awareness about the socio-economic and ecological importance of Lake Victoria and its basin while strengthening regional cooperation among EAC Partner States in the governance of shared water resources.
The event will provide a platform to showcase innovations, technologies, and best practices in environmental conservation and the blue economy, while actively engaging youth, women, and local communities in environmental stewardship and sustainable livelihood initiatives.
In addition, the celebrations aim to mobilize partnerships and resources to support ongoing and future basin-wide programs coordinated by the LVBC.
A series of activities will be undertaken in the lead-up to the main event between February and May 2026. These pre-event activities will include a regional awareness and outreach campaign conducted through radio, television, social media, and educational institutions to promote lake conservation.
School essay and art competitions will be organized under the selected theme, alongside community clean-up exercises around Mwanza’s lakeshore.
Similar activities will be replicated across all riparian EAC Partner States. Symbolic lakeshore clean-ups and tree-planting exercises led by dignitaries will encourage communities and institutions to take collective responsibility for protecting specific zones of the lake.
From 17th to 21st May 2026, exhibitions and an innovation fair will be held in Mwanza, bringing together Partner States, private sector actors, research institutions, and civil society organizations.
The exhibitions will showcase technologies and innovations in areas such as pollution control, fisheries management, renewable energy, and waste management, with special recognition given to youth- and women-led innovations.
Cultural entertainment will form an integral part of the celebrations, featuring performances by cultural troupes from all EAC Partner States to celebrate regional unity and diversity.
Local artisans and small enterprises will also display eco-friendly crafts and products, promoting community livelihoods and sustainable tourism.
A two-day Stakeholders’ Forum will take place from 18th to 19th May 2026, bringing together civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, utilities, youth and women’s groups, and other key actors.
The forum will provide a platform for different sectors to discuss their interests, engagements, and challenges related to Lake Victoria and to present their priorities.
This will be followed by a donor round table involving development partners, as well as presentations by the LVBC on its achievements, guiding strategies, ongoing frameworks, and progress in the development of Strategic Plan 5, including initiatives such as RV Jumuiya, the MRCC, headquarters development, and water sampling exercises.
Recreational activities, including boat racing organized in collaboration with relevant ministries responsible for sports and tourism, will also form part of the broader program.
A two-day stakeholders’ forum will take place from 18th to 19th May 2026, bringing together civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, utilities, youth and women’s groups, and other key actors.
The forum will provide a platform for different sectors to discuss their interests, engagements, and challenges related to Lake Victoria and to present their priorities.
The main celebration on 21st May 2026 will feature a High-Level Ministerial Segment, presided over by a Guest of Honour from the host country and attended by Ministers responsible for Water, Environment, Fisheries, Maritime Affairs, and EAC Affairs from all Partner States.
Recommendations emerging from the stakeholders’ Forum will be presented during this segment, culminating in the signing of a Joint Ministerial Communiqué reaffirming Partner States’ commitment to the sustainable management of Lake Victoria and its basin.
The inaugural Lake Victoria Day will also mark the launch of two significant milestones for regional water governance: the Lake Victoria Basin Water Information System (LVB-WIS) and the State of the Basin Report (SoBR) for the Lake Victoria Basin.
The LVB-WIS will provide a single, reliable regional platform for sharing hydrological, environmental, and socio-economic data, which will strengthen evidence-based planning, real-time monitoring, and coordinated decision-making among Partner States.
Along with this, the State of the Basin Report offers the first comprehensive assessment of the basin’s ecological health, climate risks, water resources, and development trends, serving as a key reference for policy, investment, and long-term sustainability planning.
