Heavy Rains, Poor Waste Disposal Linked to Lake Bunyonyi Discolouration

What the report says

Environmental specialists in Uganda have linked the recent discolouration of Lake Bunyonyi to heavy rainfall and poor waste disposal, according to Nile Post. The lake, which lies between Rubanda and Kisoro districts in southwestern Uganda, is a major tourism site and water source for nearby communities. The report says experts from the Ministry of Water and Environment are concerned that pollution, siltation and increasing pressure on water treatment could affect both the lake and the people who depend on it.

At a dissemination workshop in Kabale Municipality, Dr John Peter Obubu of the ministry’s Department of Water Quality Management said investigators looked at several possible explanations for the change in the lake’s colour. Nile Post reported that the team considered temperature shifts and other environmental factors, but did not find evidence tying the discolouration to volcanic activity. Instead, they pointed to rainfall that can wash waste and other pollutants into the water, along with improper disposal practices around the catchment area.

Commissioner for Water Quality Management Lillian Idrakua warned that sediment buildup could alter the lake’s size and depth over time, while National Water and Sewerage Corporation manager Patrick Otim said worsening raw water quality, suspended solids, faecal contamination and power supply problems were complicating treatment. District officials also raised concerns about wastewater handling by tourism businesses around the lake and called for stronger conservation funding and waste management systems. In general, the report underscores the tension between economic activity around Lake Bunyonyi and the need to protect its fragile ecosystem.