Integrated lake management in Uganda: structures, policies and plans

Ecosystems are complex, and many different livelihoods are often dependent on them. An integrated approach to natural resource management reflects this complexity. However, this approach requires the right combination of management structures, policies and plans to ensure the participation and cooperation of all groups.

Integrated approaches are often characterised by links to broad development and management strategies, wide participation by concerned groups, and cooperation between sectors. Such approaches are often challenging to implement. The many different organisations and sectors involved each have a limited focus and different perspectives on the broad range of environment and natural resource (ENR) issues to consider.

The Government of Uganda has adopted an integrated approach to lake management, though this is largely founded on fisheries management. The implementation was supported on two lakes, Lake Kyoga in central Uganda and Lake George in the southwest, by a DFID-funded project, Integrated Lake Management.

The main aim of the national government was to strengthen the collaboration of central and local government, and fisheries communities. This began with the formation of community-based Beach Management Units (BMUs). These send representatives to sub-district and district BMU Committees and on to committees of Lake Management Organisations (LMOs). LMOs are formed by local governments bordering the lake for coordinated and harmonized lake management planning and implementation.

To be successful, it is critical that policies, structures and plans are integrated at different management levels. The Ugandan experience shows:

• Integration across the ENR sector can be encouraged by adopting similar approaches and common principles. These include involving local people in management and forming a national working group for the sector.
• Integrating ENR management policy objectives into poverty reduction strategies requires a clear understanding of how ENR contributes to poverty reduction, and of the different priorities for poverty reduction within the sector.
• The new lake management structures (BMUs and LMOs) create links between the national and local governments and communities dependent on lakes.
• Planning by LMOs has included all relevant groups and sectors. This coordination enables plans to feed into the local government development processes.
• Guidelines for integrated planning are essential for bringing sectoral plans and priorities together in a coordinated and coherent framework.

Integrated approaches should improve the effectiveness, coherence and harmonisation of policies and programmes, but require strong commitment and good understanding from everyone involved. Key recommendations include:

• Policymakers (especially natural resource officials) must recognise the potential of effective ENR management to reduce poverty. This will strengthen the contribution to poverty reduction from the sector and increase financial and technical support within national poverty reduction strategies.
• Identifying policy priorities through participatory processes strengthens the influence of the ENR sector within policy processes.

Source(s):
‘Managing Lakes in Uganda: Integration through Policies, Structures and Plans’, Water Policy 9, pages 253-269, by Fiona Nunan, 2007

Funded by: UK Department for International Development CNTR 98 6631

id21 Research Highlight: 12 October 2007

Further Information:
Fiona Nunan
Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation
Plot No. 2 Oboja Road & 28 Kisinja Road
P.O. Box 1625, Jinja
Uganda

Tel: +256 434120205
Fax: +256 434123123
Contact the contributor: fnunan@lvfo.org

Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation, Uganda

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