The Ministry of Water and Environment has explained the cause of the foul smell currently affecting areas around Lake Victoria, particularly Inner Murchison Bay in Luzira and parts of Entebbe, attributing it to increased pollution and algal blooms intensified by the recent dry season.
In a statement issued on 3rd February 2026, the Ministry noted that Lake Victoria and its basin support over 45 million people, providing water for domestic use, transportation, hydropower generation, and sustaining biodiversity and economic activities. However, heavily utilized bays such as Inner Murchison Bay, Kitubulu, Nakiwogo, and Napoleon Gulf continue to face significant pollution pressure.
According to the Ministry, these bays receive large volumes of pollutants from surface runoff carrying silt, plastic waste, municipal wastewater, industrial effluent, and agricultural runoff. The situation has worsened due to the degradation of surrounding wetlands, which previously acted as natural filters before water entered the lake.
Recent water quality monitoring conducted by the Ministry shows persistently high levels of nutrients—particularly nitrogen and phosphorus—in the affected bays. These nutrients promote excessive algal growth. When the algae die and decompose, they release gases such as hydrogen sulphide and ammonia, causing the unpleasant smell currently being experienced. The decomposition process also reduces oxygen levels in the water, posing a threat to fish and other aquatic life.
The Ministry explained that the high temperatures and dry conditions experienced over the past month accelerated the decomposition of dead algae, resulting in the severe stench reported by residents.
To address the problem, the Ministry is implementing several measures, including restoration of degraded wetlands, enforcement of a 200-metre buffer zone around the lake, continuous water quality monitoring, and stricter enforcement of effluent discharge standards for industries and municipal treatment plants. Industries are also being encouraged to adopt cleaner production techniques that reduce wastewater discharge into the lake.
Despite these efforts, the Ministry acknowledged that more needs to be done. Priorities include improving solid waste management, promoting environmentally friendly agricultural practices, strengthening enforcement by urban authorities, and scaling up public awareness to foster collective responsibility for protecting the lake.
The Ministry emphasized that restoring and maintaining the ecological balance of Lake Victoria requires coordinated action among government agencies, local communities, industries, urban authorities, and environmental organizations.
“The protection of Lake Victoria is a shared responsibility,” the statement noted, calling on all Ugandans to play their part in safeguarding one of the country’s most valuable natural resources