More than 100 civil society organisations from 35 countries have called on the governments of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania to launch a transparent, community-led assessment of Lake Victoria as a possible UNESCO World Heritage Site, arguing that local communities must play a central role in determining the lake’s future.
The appeal, coordinated by Action for Climate and Environmental Justice (ACEJ) and the Environment Governance Institute (EGI), comes as the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meets in Busan, Republic of Korea, this month to consider heritage nominations and conservation issues from around the world.
The coalition of 116 organisations is urging the three East African governments, together with UNESCO and the East African Community (EAC), to recognise Lake Victoria as a “living cultural landscape” rather than viewing it solely as a natural resource.
Instead of immediately pursuing World Heritage inscription, the groups want an inclusive assessment that examines the lake’s wider ecosystem—including its wetlands, tributaries, islands, cultural sites and fishing communities—before deciding whether it should be nominated as a cultural, natural ormixed heritage site.
“We have demonstrated that Lake Victoria’s exceptional biodiversity, fisheries, wetlands, islands, sacred sites and cultural heritage represent an Outstanding Universal Value,” said Cirrus Kabaale, chief executive officer of STREC.
“By protecting the lake’s wider landscape, we also safeguard the systems that have sustained this heritage for generations,” he said.
Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake by surface area and the world’s largest tropical lake. Shared by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, its basin extends into Rwanda and Burundi, making it one of East Africa’s most important shared natural resources.
Beyond supporting millions of people who depend on fishing and related economic activities, the lake feeds the Nile River system, making its health critical to regional water security and the management of ecosystems that cross national borders.
For many lakeside communities, the lake is more than an economic resource. It is closely tied to cultural traditions, spiritual practices and generations of ecological knowledge that have shaped local livelihoods and conservation practices.
The civil society groups argue that any move towards World Heritage status should protect those connections by ensuring communities participate fully in decisions affecting the lake.
They say the process should be guided by the principle of free, prior and informed consent, particularly where Indigenous communities are concerned, and should include safeguards against displacement, exclusionary conservation measures and restrictions on traditional livelihoods.
“We are calling for a transparent, science-based, community-led assessment that examines the lake and its interconnected systems before any decisions are made,” said Bwengye Rajab Yusufu, executive director of the National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE).
The organisations also expressed concern about the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and other oil developments within the Lake Victoria Basin. Although the pipeline does not cross the lake itself, they argue that activities in connected rivers, wetlands and catchment areas could have long-term effects on water quality, fisheries and the livelihoods of communities that depend on the lake.
“Impacts can move through interconnected ecosystems, affecting biodiversity, food security and cultural heritage,” said Doreen Namara, executive director of the Liberty Probono Initiative.
“A community-led World Heritage assessment offers an opportunity to strengthen environmental protection and sustainable investment choices,” she said.
Among its recommendations, the coalition proposes that Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania establish a joint taskforce with strong representation from local communities to guide the assessment process.
The groups are also calling for stronger governance of the lake, more scientific and cultural research, and a precautionary approach to oil, gas and other major infrastructure projects within the Lake Victoria Basin.
If adopted, the proposed assessment would mark the first step towards determining whether Lake Victoria meets UNESCO’s criteria for World Heritage status while ensuring that the people who have lived alongside the lake for generations help shape its future.
