The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has stepped up its efforts to promote environmental protection by joining the 8th Save Lake Victoria Marathon, Exhibition and Fish Festival in Jinja City. The event, being held at Source of the Nile Resort, brings together different stakeholders to raise awareness about the dangers facing Lake Victoria and the need for collective action to preserve the vital water resource.
The Commission is taking part in the event through a partnership between its Public Affairs Division and the Jinja Regional Office. The delegation is led by the Jinja Regional Head, Mr. Fnyendy, with support from the Public Affairs Manager, Mr. Alex Bukumunhe. Their participation is intended to strengthen public understanding of the relationship between environmental conservation and the protection of human rights.
The marathon was flagged off by the State Minister for Fisheries, Hon. Robert Migadde Ndugwa, who is also serving as the Chief Guest for the day’s activities. Runners set off from Source of the Nile Resort, headed towards Jinja City through Gaddafi Roundabout and proceeded to the Old Bridge before returning to the resort, where the exhibition and Fish Festival are taking place.
The annual conservation event provides a platform for communities, institutions and environmental advocates to draw attention to the growing need to safeguard Lake Victoria. The lake is an important natural resource shared by East African countries and supports millions of people through fishing, trade, tourism, transport and other economic activities. Its continued degradation could therefore have far-reaching consequences for both the environment and the livelihoods of communities that depend on it.
For UHRC, protecting the environment goes beyond conservation because environmental damage can directly undermine people’s enjoyment of their fundamental rights. Pollution, destruction of natural resources and environmental disasters can affect access to safe water, adequate food, good health and even the right to life. The Commission is using its participation to emphasise the need to address these challenges before they develop into wider human rights concerns.
The Commission has further linked environmental sustainability to the government’s 10-Fold Growth Strategy, which identifies environmental protection as one of the important areas for achieving Uganda’s development ambitions by 2030. UHRC believes that sustainable development requires responsible management of natural resources and the involvement of all sections of society in protecting the environment.
The Fish Festival, which is running alongside the marathon and exhibition, also provides an opportunity to promote the right to quality food. Through the festival, participants are encouraged to appreciate the nutritional and economic importance of fish while recognising the need for responsible fishing and sustainable management of aquatic resources. The initiative also highlights the connection between protecting Lake Victoria and ensuring continued access to food for communities.
Other institutions participating in the activities include the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), Ministry of Water and Environment, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Kyambogo University, International University of East Africa, Busitema University and Private Care International, among others. Their involvement reflects a shared commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable development, with the overall message that protecting Lake Victoria is not only an environmental duty but also an important step towards safeguarding the rights, health and livelihoods of present and future generations.
