The Ministry of Water and Environment traced that nasty smell around Luzira back to rotting algae in Murchison Bay yesterday. They said pollution feeds these algae blooms and creates toxic lake conditions. The ministry explained how these plants first suck up nutrients, then die off and release those same nutrients right back into the water. This sets up an endless bad cycle where more algae just keep growing.
Dead algae cause big problems for the lake. As they break down, they use up oxygen and pump out stinky gases like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. These gases not only smell terrible but also create low-oxygen zones that kill fish and other water creatures. The smell becomes way worse during hot, breezy days - making the air almost impossible to breathe for nearby residents.
Murchison Bay faces pollution from many sources. Dirt and trash wash in from city streets whenever it rains. Sewage flows from Kampala and its suburbs. Factories dump waste directly into the water. Farm chemicals run off nearby fields into the lake. Damaged wetlands around the shore can no longer filter out these harmful substances before they reach the water.
The government tracks water quality with 31 testing stations across Kampala and Entebbe. These tests show steadily rising nutrient levels throughout the bay. Anyone can see the results as bright green patches covering parts of the lake surface where thick algae grow. The ministry wants to fix several issues to solve this smelly problem.
Their plan includes rebuilding damaged wetlands and strictly keeping development back 200 meters from the shoreline. They want better trash pickup and sewage treatment systems plus stricter rules for factory waste disposal. The ministry also plans more community education programs about lake protection. They asked all Ugandans to help protect Lake Victoria since nearly 38 million people depend on it for drinking water, jobs, and transportation every day.
Dead algae cause big problems for the lake. As they break down, they use up oxygen and pump out stinky gases like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. These gases not only smell terrible but also create low-oxygen zones that kill fish and other water creatures. The smell becomes way worse during hot, breezy days - making the air almost impossible to breathe for nearby residents.
Murchison Bay faces pollution from many sources. Dirt and trash wash in from city streets whenever it rains. Sewage flows from Kampala and its suburbs. Factories dump waste directly into the water. Farm chemicals run off nearby fields into the lake. Damaged wetlands around the shore can no longer filter out these harmful substances before they reach the water.
The government tracks water quality with 31 testing stations across Kampala and Entebbe. These tests show steadily rising nutrient levels throughout the bay. Anyone can see the results as bright green patches covering parts of the lake surface where thick algae grow. The ministry wants to fix several issues to solve this smelly problem.
Their plan includes rebuilding damaged wetlands and strictly keeping development back 200 meters from the shoreline. They want better trash pickup and sewage treatment systems plus stricter rules for factory waste disposal. The ministry also plans more community education programs about lake protection. They asked all Ugandans to help protect Lake Victoria since nearly 38 million people depend on it for drinking water, jobs, and transportation every day.
