In a major milestone for transboundary conservation, Dr Alfred Okot Okidi, the Permanent Secretary of Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment, has been awarded a prestigious regional accolade for his outstanding contribution to the sustainable development of the Lake Victoria Basin.
The coveted award was presented by the Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba, during the historic commemoration of the maiden Regional Lake Victoria Day held at the Nane Nane Grounds in Mwanza. The high-profile recognition underscores Dr Okidi’s tireless efforts in steering regional dialogue and advocating for the collective preservation of Africa’s largest freshwater body.
As the top technocrat leading Uganda’s water and environment docket, Dr. Okidi has been instrumental in shifting the East African Community (EAC) away from isolated, country-specific campaigns toward highly coordinated, cross-border resource management frameworks.
A unified triad against ecological decay
Dr. Okidi’s collaborative leadership culminated this week in the historic rollout of three transformative digital and structural shields designed to salvage the basin from severe ecological decay:
The State of the Lake Victoria Basin Report: A data-heavy scientific audit exposing environmental degradation trends to inform regional planning.
The Lake Victoria Basin Water Information System (LVB-WIS): A cross-border digital network built to facilitate real-time hydrological data sharing across member states.
The Integrated Water Resources Management Strategy: A harmonized master plan mapping out coordinated investments and wetland reclamation campaigns.
A matter of national security
Throughout his tenure, Dr. Okidi has aggressively lobbied EAC partner states to establish blended, sustained regional financing models to build massive transboundary waste treatment plants and scale up pollution controls. He has consistently championed conservation by framing the lake’s health as an existential economic issue, warning that a compromised ecosystem is a direct threat to the region’s industrial future.
“For Uganda, a compromised Lake Victoria would mean not only environmental degradation, but also energy insecurity and economic disruption,” Dr. Okidi warned in his address to regional leaders.
The stakes for Uganda are remarkably high. The country oversees approximately 45% of the lake’s surface area, which acts as the sole feeder for the River Nile at Jinja. This vital resource powers Uganda’s sequential hydroelectric dams-including Nalubaale Kiira, Bujagali, Isimba, and Karuma-which collectively generate more than 90% of the electricity running the national grid.
Dr. Okidi’s signature guiding principle remains a cornerstone of the region’s current conservation narrative: the financial cost of repairing a completely dead ecosystem far outweighs the budget required to protect a functioning one.
A sweeping win for Uganda
Uganda’s prominent role in safeguarding the basin was further cemented with additional prestigious awards at the event. Ms. Edith Mwanje, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of East African Community Affairs, was recognized for her diplomatic contributions.
Additionally, a posthumous honor was awarded to Dr. Tom Okurut, the first Executive Secretary of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission, celebrating his foundational and outstanding contribution to regional cooperation.