Civil Society Views on the Lake Victoria Basin Commission Bill (May 29, 2019)

On September 4, 2007, partners of an East African Civil Society Watchdog Project for
Sustainable Development in the Lake Victoria basin (UCSD, TCSD and Kenya SusWatch
network), and the East African Communities Organization for management of Lake Victoria
resources (ECOVIC) submitted comments on the Lake Victoria Commission Bill, 2007
Supplement to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) that was under consideration
during this period (10 – 29 September 2007). These are attached for your reference (in case
you have missed them out).

On behalf of the East African SusWatch Network 1 (comprising Uganda Coalition for
Sustainable Development and SusWatch Kenya, among others), and INFORSE East Africa2, we
would like to point out that the Lake Victoria Commission Bill (2019) that has been revised, has
taken into account many of the key issues we raised. We highlight the key ones as follows:

 Section 8: Functions of the sectoral council are clear and explicit

 Section 11(3): The Sectoral committee composition is clear in line with Article 3 of the
Protocol for Sustainable Development of Lake Victoria

However, from a practitioner point of view, we would like to point out the following issues for
further consideration by Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources of EALA:

1. Section 11(4): National Focal Points has a better elaboration of the roles of the National
Focal Point than the previous version. We are of the view that this could be expounded
further in conformity with the regionality of the Commission and in support of local and
national actions that contribute to the regional cooperation on sustainable development of
Lake Victoria in view of the regional and global challenges like ewaste, climate change,
pollution, and illegal fishing practices, among others that do not respect borders.

2. Given the current state of affairs, the role of oversight for Lake Victoria needs to be given
more prominence and clear responsible institution(s).

 Who takes regional responsibility for lack of implementation of the harmonised laws,
standards, and other regionally set obligations?
 Where can stakeholders openly air their complaints, suggestions regarding the
(above) regional mandates and responsibilities that are not being discharged at all /
fully?
 What about the Intergenerational equity (with the current environmental impacts /
trends in natural resource use, will future generations receive a liveable environment)?

For more information please contact

The Programme Manager

Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development
P.O.Box 27551 Kampala | Tel: +256 414 269461 / +256 772 457465
Email: ugandacoalition@infocom.co.ug | rkimbowa@ugandacoalition.or.ug

1
The East African SusWatch Network (hosted by Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development in
Uganda) is a loose network of individuals and CSOs interested in securing sustainable development in
East Africa. More: https://web.facebook.com/groups/175014042594244/

2 INFORSE East Africa (hosted by TaTEDO in Tanzania) is a part of a global network of more than 140
NGOs working for sustainable energy solutions to protect the environment & reduce poverty.
Coordinators: TaTEDO, UCSD and SusWatch Kenya. More: https://web.facebook.com/eastinforse/