The Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) and the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the sustainable management and development of Lake Victoria and its resources.
The MoU, signed by
Mr. Mukasa Tom Bukenya, Executive Secretary of LVFO, and
Dr. Masinde Bwire, Executive Secretary of LVBC, provides a framework for collaboration in key areas including joint research, environmental conservation, capacity building, policy harmonization, and resource mobilization. It also introduces measures for information technology disaster recovery, with each institution hosting a Disaster Recovery Site at their premises in Jinja (Uganda) and Kisumu (Kenya) to ensure data security and business continuity.
Following the signing ceremony, LVFO and LVBC held a joint meeting with representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to strategize the implementation of a pilot project under the Global Initiative on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and Inland Fisheries. The project aims to promote community-based water and fisheries management in the Lake Victoria Basin through stakeholder mapping, ecosystem threat assessment, and conservation interventions.
The pilot project initiative worth US 140,000, being implemented jointly and through a Letter of Agreement (LoA) signed in July 2025 and underscores the commitment of LVFO, LVBC, and FAO to ensuring sustainable fisheries, ecosystem resilience, and livelihoods for the millions who depend on Lake Victoria.
The main outputs will be:
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Detailed stakeholder mapping covering the fisheries and other blue economy sectors.
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Comprehensive basin-wide threat assessment and stakeholder consultation conducted.
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Existing fisheries co-management systems assessed with recommended improvements.
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Pilot implementation and monitoring of community-based habitat protection and conservation.
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Bankable Project proposal for implementation of IWRM for inland fisheries.
This partnership reaffirms the shared vision of the East African Community (EAC) institutions to safeguard the lake’s ecological integrity and promote sustainable blue economy development across the region.
