The Lake Victoria water quality is continuing deterioration because of the misuse of natural resources, Minister of Water, Lands and Environment Kahinda Otafire said on Wednesday.

Otafire said that "Increasing population pressure has brought misuse of natural resources thus leading to the deterioration of the water quality."

He said that the population increase has brought about greater urbanization and industrialization, intensified agriculture malpractises leading to overgrazing, deforestation, soil erosion and greater use of pesticides.

The minister called upon the stake holders to save the lake by working towards sustaining it.

Meanwhile, scientists at Uganda's National Agricultural Research Organization have warned that the lake needed urgent attention.

Dr. Fred Wanda, one of the researchers, was quoted by local media as saying that the Murchison Bay area in Kampala was clear evidence that the lake was in danger.

"There is algae and one can easily see it. Algae is a microscopic organism and if one can see it with naked eyes it means the situation is bad," he said.

A recent report on fisheries said that 200 species of fish had disappeared from Lake Victoria in the past 40 years due to water pollution.

According to the report, the lake's commercial fishery resources have reduced to three species of fish, namely the Nile Perch, Tilapia and Dagga.

Lake Victoria basin is an economic growth zone in east Africa and the vast catchment areas of the lake are rich in natural resources and economic activities generating up to 12 billion US dollars annually in east Africa.

Source: Xinhua