Lake Victoria water level overtakes average

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The amount of rainfall received in the Lake Victoria Basin in the March to June season has overtaken its normal long term average.

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 precipitation.

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 were detected in the Lake Victoria and Victoria Nile Sub-basin during April and May while the Blue Nile, Baro Akobo Sobat and Barh el Jebel received the highest amounts in June.

The report indicates that “rainfall amount reduced over the Lake Victoria basin by 28 percent and 6 percent in March and April respectively before picking pace in May and June to overtake the long term average”.

The Lake Victoria Basin recorded its highest rainfall amount in May posting 12 percent higher than the long term average. The following month of June, the basin experienced even more than normal rainfall posting 53 percent increase above the normal average.

Although the highest rainfall amount recorded over the Lake Albert sub-basin was detected in April, the pattern fell sort of the long term average by 3 percent. This was quickly overturned in June with precipitation amount peaking 32 percent above the long term average.

The Nile basin Initiative (NBI), says the average increase is good for farmers practising agriculture in the basin as it presents more water availability for higher crop yields in the agriculture sector and higher hydro-power production for the energy sector.

The trend is a sharp recovery from the prolonged dry spell which delayed the start of agriculture in Uganda.

According to Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA), the current rainfall precipitation is still expected to persist even in August as the rainfall belt moves further to the north of the country.

Festus Luboyera, the Executive Director of Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) says it is regrettable that the rains are falling out of planting seasons for farmers to take advantage of.

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