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http://www.ugpulse.com/articles/daily/news.asp?ID=4173 - This report by Ultimate Media yet again brings back to the forefront some of the issues faced on ground in addressing how to tackle the spread of the freshwater hyacinth that has eaten large parts of the lake.  Albeit some persons have found ways to utilise this plant - the impact on the fishing industry has been felt by both those near and far which perhaps in a way has led to what some see as drastic action for the use of DDT.  In addition to wanting to stem the spread of this water plant, there is also the fight against mosquito -carrying malaria parasite which is one of the biggest cause of deaths in our motherland.  Perhaps the conservative party within Ug using the platform of CHOGM which hopefully will be afforded them, will shed further light on ways of redress.

Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake, is so immense that it influences regional climate. But pollution and the introduction of predatory species have changed the character of the lake, decimating the local fishing industry and leaving millions of people without a vital source of nutrition.

Pollution and the introduction of non-native species are taking a toll on Africa's Lake Victoria. (Photo courtesy Barny Trevelyan-Johnson.)

NCAR scientist Michael Glantz, who specializes in the societal impacts of natural events, has worked with the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization to list the Lake Victoria Basin among the world's important ecological and social hotspots. He is providing support to scientists in the countries bordering the lake who are working on a restoration program.

Glantz believes researchers need to increase scientific understanding of Lake Victoria's ecosystem and its impact on both human population and climate. The goal is to restore the lake as much as possible and to ensure that future activities do not deplete its important resources.

Rising issues aside, i am more interested if this demo will be allowed to proceed. Right now, there are so many armed men on the streets and if you even appear to be ill-intentioned, chances are that you will be whisked away to the nearest police station and interrogated. Ask some of the people who walked around without identification and had to spend an afternoon in a jail cell.

On a positive note, Kale Kaihura has stated that demos might be allowed to proceed during CHOGM but only in places that have been gazetted by the Police. These places have not been announced yet so its unclear whether he will be as good as his word.

Lets wait and see, praying for a teargas free CHOGM 

Thanks for sharing this babes.. the issue of the lake is very complicated, incidentally I was rumaging through my old pics last Sat (10.1107) I found a pic of the lake prior to the arrival of the weed. All the countries covered by the lake would ahve to come together to agree a strategy for mantaining it. I suspect that this would not be the case though as one of these countries has it's baskets (made out of the weed) selling like hot cakes in John Lewis.. no sour grapes you understand..

Vision,you are right. There was actually a summit with TZ and Kenya where reforms were to be made about managing the weed. However, the methodology couldn't be agreed upon as fishermen in Kenya opposed the idea of introducing bacteria to eat the weed, preferring instead to remove it manually. It ended up in a stalemate with pretty much each country doing as it pleased.

that's the problem Sam