By Andrew Irumba
Hoteliers in Uganda who own resort hotels and other commercial facilities along the shores of Lake Victoria are counting more losses other than those caused by Codiv19 pandemic, after the water levels rose to unprecedented levels in 2020 eating into their spaces.
As a result of the increasing water levels, several hotels, among them Serena Hotel Kigo, Speke Resort Munyoyo, Gaba Beach and others are already facing the brunt of mother nature, as the lake claims most of their beaches spaces, after quite amounts of water flooded all over their premises.
According to pictures taken by our Spies, both Serena Hotel Kigo ,and Speke Resort Munyonyo are currently flooded and the situation is expected to worsen now that the rainy season is expected soon.
It should be noted that a few weeks ago President Yoweri Museveni warned about an increase in the water levels of Lake Victoria after being advised by experts
Over the years, environmentalists have warned that water levels on the lake Vic. would decrease due to the construction of hydropower dams on River Nile But the variability in climate is proving otherwise and the water levels have kept rising over the years, having hit the peak in 2019.
Since early 2020 there has been distress from farmers,
business facilities, residential premises and other premises along the
lakeshore because of the rise in water levels, which is attributed to
torrential rains, especially during this rainy season, which is expected to
last till the end of May.
Currently, several commercial facilities, to wit beaches and hotels, restaurants, landing sites, markets etc along the shoreline have been flooded and or submerged.
However, although environmentalists say
this unpredictable flooding points to climate change occasioned by global
warming due to man’s relentless war against nature, others contend it is being caused by pollution occasioned by
man, which also partly explains water surges that are forcing the suffocated
lake to burst its shoreline, submerging businesses and residences within close
proximity of its shoreline.
“It has come 35 metres into our gardens. Our marina and harbour, we had quite a bit of a shoreline but they have all been affected. For 16 years that I have worked here, I have never seen the water levels rise up to this part of the gardens,” Mr Malik Akhilesh, the assistant general manager at Speke Resort Munyonyo, told the media in 2019.
He added: “This is lakeside. We have four of our prime venues next to the shore. It’s one of the biggest and most popular venue for functions and events; the peace lawns and the marina restaurant. Three of our prime venues have been affected by the rising water level.” But the situation has since worsened, making it difficult for the hotel to utilize the beach and the biggest part of the compound, because it is flooded.
According to an analysis of data collected during the season indicates that water levels in the major lakes in the basin – Lake Victoria, Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert, Lake Edward, Lake Tana and Nasser increased due to rise in the amount of rainfall.
The new rainfall pattern is being attributed to the persisting presence of the rainfall belt over the East Africa region associated with prevailing high-pressure region over the Indian Ocean and influx of moisture-laden winds from the Atlantic Ocean and the Congo Forests.
A monitoring report by the Nile Basin Initiative indicates that highest amounts of rainfall is expected in the Lake Victoria and Victoria Nile Sub-basin during April and May .
The report indicates that “rainfall amount reduced over the Lake Victoria basin by 28 percent and 6 percent in March and April respectively but is expected to peak in May and June to overtake the long term average”.
