Introduction During the year 2005, the Lake Victoria Clean Up Week (LVCUW) was inaugurated in the Lake Victoria Region through partnership cooperation between LVRLAC, UN-HABITAT and ECOVIC. The event taking place 9th – 16th July 2005 involved the first generation City Development Strategy (CDS) cities of Kampala - Uganda, Kisumu - Kenya, and Musoma - Tanzania. At the climax of the events in Kampala on 16th July 2005, LVCUW was declared an annual event and a partnership agreement entered into between LVRLAC, UN-HABITAT and ECOVIC to include this event in the annual calendar. The event in 2006 further involved the second generation CDS cities of Entebbe - Uganda, Homa Bay - Kenya, and Bukoba - Tanzania, further including Mwanza - Tanzania where the events are expected to climax. 
| | The overall objective of the Lake Victoria Clean Up Week (LVCUW) is to innovatively change attitudes and behaviour with regard to environmentally unsound activities that continue to harm Lake Victoria. It is an initiative that encourages environmental action at the local level, while targeting a regional impact. The beach communities settled along the shores of Lake Victoria directly impact on its pollution thus the need to cultivate a culture of caring for the environment especially through the youth. By encouraging people to adopt a hands-on approach to environmental management, this activity is beneficial to the surrounding communities as it will inspire and support them to take simple, positive steps towards restoring and protecting the environment, thus enabling them to take ownership over its conservation. |
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This year’s event aimed to: · Mobilize the shoreline communities to clean up the surroundings near the Lake in all six CDS cities and Mwanza as the climax city. · Create awareness and encourage action on the increased environmental degradation of the lake · Educate and promote options on how the Lake can be sustained and well managed through eco- friendly sustainable alternatives · Promote Lake Victoria as a tourist destination and investment centre by showcasing what it has to offer in an exciting and interesting way to both the local and international community. · Determine, recognize and reward individuals, institutions and/or organizations that have contributed significantly towards the protection and conservation efforts on the Lake · Forge links with other strategic partners around the Lake Victoria Region · Promote networking and communication of the local authorities around the Lake The 2006 Campaign Following last year’s successful launch of the Lake Victoria Clean Up Week (LVCUW), this year’s event has been organized to involve a wider community and generate larger impact. Under the theme “A clean environment is everyone’s responsibility – act responsibly”, seven cities along the shoreline of Lake Victoria organized activities in a clean up campaign to raise awareness among the residents on the need to take better care of the world’s second largest fresh water lake. The events were programmed to take place on 21st – 27th July 2006, with the official kick-off in Entebbe, Uganda on the 21st July and climax of events in Mwanza, Tanzania on 27th July 2006. All the participating cities held weeklong awareness campaigns and clean-up activities, each with a specific core action area. The official entourage of the LVCUW joined activities starting from Entebbe, Uganda on the 21st July, Kampala 22nd July, Homa Bay 24th July and climaxing in Mwanza 27th July. Activities planned in the different cities included: § Clean up of rubbish from beaches, markets and rivers around Lake Victoria § Sports activities including boat racing, swimming, beach games, ‘boda boda’ races, football matches, tug-of-war etc. § Installation of litterbins and waste management facilities at the clean up sites § Campaigns towards the relocation of car washing bays by the Lake § Information sharing on how the Lake can be sustained and well managed through eco- friendly sustainable alternatives. § Mobilization, sensitization and awareness creation amongst the beach management units (BMUs) § Cultural exhibitions, dramatized themes, environmental exhibitions etc § Tree planting § Publicity and procession marches § Advertising and public relations campaign § Involvement of youth through Essay, drama, choir and poem competitions § Presentation of the Lake Victoria Environmental awards
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