Public Agenda NewsPaperPublic Agenda NewsPaper
  • General News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Development Agenda
  • World News
  • Features & Opinions
  • Election watch
  • Editorial
Font ResizerAa
Public Agenda NewsPaperPublic Agenda NewsPaper
Font ResizerAa
  • General News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Development Agenda
  • World News
  • Features & Opinions
  • Election watch
  • Editorial
Search
  • General News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Development Agenda
  • World News
  • Features & Opinions
  • Election watch
  • Editorial
Follow US
Breaking NewsWorld News

Floods fill Africa’s biggest lake to record levels

Latifa Carlos
Last updated: May 5, 2020 1:36 am
Latifa Carlos
Share
2 Min Read
SHARE

East Africa’s Lake Victoria, the continent’s largest freshwater lake, has seen its shores rise to record levels, submerging businesses, homes and threatening thousands of lives and livelihoods.

In Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania the rising waters have forced families to abandon their flooded homes.

In Budalangi, Western Kenya, dozens of families have been left stranded on the swollen shores. Rising water continues to consume the remaining roads and bridges – some now have to cross to safety in wooden dugout canoes, while others carry household items on their heads as they wade through knee-deep water.

Dr Ally-Said Matano of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission said that beyond displacement, the surging water levels also present a massive health risk

“There is an increase in waterborne diseases; malaria, bilharzia are on the rise. And of course this is also aggravated by the fact that we are in the middle of a epidemic,” Dr Matano said.

In the lakeside city of Kisumu nearly 100km (62 miles) further south, tourist spots, hotels, and fishing villages are under water too.

Across the border in Uganda, flooding has raised the lake’s water levels to just under 13.4 metres, a mark last recorded in 1964.

The rising lake levels have caused the River Nile water to rise too, leading to chunks of land breaking away from its banks. Last month, a floating island blocked a hydroelectric dam in Jinja, causing a brief nationwide power blackout.

The Nile flows into Lake Kyoga north of the capital, Kampala, which has in turn burst its shores, displacing dozens of families.

The Greater Horn Africa Climate Outlook has predicted higher than normal amounts of rain will continue throughout May.

Lake Victoria is a priceless shared resource for close to 40 million people living across three countries’ borders, now it presents a shared challenge.

Source: BBC

Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Email Copy Link Print

Latest News

Ablekuma North: EC to rerun Parliamentary Election in 19 Polling Stations
July 2, 2025
Mid-Year budget to clarify road contractor payments – Ampem Nyarko
July 2, 2025
 ISODEC Urges Citizens to Engage More in Local Governance Processes 
July 2, 2025
Mfantseman Youth Trained to Strengthen Local Governance Participation 
July 2, 2025
Government Reaffirms Commitment to Investment-Friendly Environment to Attract Development Financing
July 1, 2025
New UN report charts path out of debt crisis threatening global development
June 30, 2025
World Bank backs Ghana $360m to strengthen macroeconomic stability
June 30, 2025

You Might Also Like

Breaking NewsElection watchtop stories

GJA holds national and regional elections today

June 30, 2025
Breaking NewsBusinesstop stories

PURC announces 2.45% increase in Electricity tariffs from July 1

June 26, 2025
Breaking NewsBusinesstop stories

Iran cannot unilaterally shut Strait of Hormuz – NPA boss

June 23, 2025
Breaking NewsBusinesstop stories

Israel-Iran war: Fuel prices likely to rise in July – COPEC

June 23, 2025

About Us

Public Agenda is fou­nded and owned by Pu­blic Agenda Communic­ations.

Public Agenda was founded as a public interest Me­dia entity. Its Visi­on is to contribute to building a well-i­nformed society where accurate informati­on dissemination is the cornerstone of a democratic, just and equitable society.

Its mission is to inform, guide and bui­ld responsible citiz­enship and accountab­le decision making and strive for excell­ence in the media in­dustry. Public Agenda Communications is managed by a Board of Directors.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?