A coalition of 116 civil society organisations, alongside three individuals from more than 35 countries, has called on the governments of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania to initiate a transparent, community-led assessment of Lake Victoria for possible nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The groups also urged the three governments to shift investment away from fossil fuel expansion and instead prioritise protection of the lake’s fisheries, wetlands, cultural heritage, clean water systems, renewable energy and sustainable livelihoods.
The call comes as the UNESCO World Heritage Committee convenes in Busan, South Korea, for its 19–29 July session, where nominations and related matters are under consideration. The civil society statement has been submitted to the respective governments alongside a report by the Uganda-based Strategic Response on Environmental Conservation (STREC), titled Protecting Lake Victoria: A Call for Community-Led World Heritage Assessment.
Cirrus Kabaale, chief executive officer of STREC, said Lake Victoria possesses exceptional ecological and cultural value that merits global recognition.
“We have demonstrated that Lake Victoria’s biodiversity, fisheries, wetlands, islands, sacred sites and traditional knowledge together represent an outstanding universal value worthy of international recognition,” Kabaale said.
He added that protecting the lake’s wider ecosystem would help preserve the cultural and environmental systems that have sustained communities for generations.
Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake by surface area and the world’s largest tropical lake. It is shared by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, with its basin extending into Rwanda and Burundi. The lake also feeds into the Nile River system, making its conservation critical for regional water security and transboundary environmental management.
For millions of communities living along its shores, the lake remains a key source of livelihood, cultural identity and ecological knowledge.
The coalition emphasised that any World Heritage nomination process should build on existing UNESCO tentative listings in the Lake Victoria region, including sites with geometric rock art, while allowing communities to shape the final boundaries and approach.
The groups called for a rights-based process grounded in free, prior and informed consent, particularly where Indigenous communities are affected, and warned against conservation approaches that could lead to displacement or exclusion.
“We are calling for a transparent, science-based and community-led assessment that examines the lake, its islands, wetlands, tributaries and cultural sites before any nomination pathway is determined,” said Bwengye Rajab Yusufu, executive director of the National Association of Professional Environmentalists.
The statement also raised concerns about the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and related oil developments within the Lake Victoria Basin.
Although the pipeline does not pass directly through the lake, civil society actors warned that its proximity to rivers, wetlands and watersheds could pose significant environmental risks.
“Impacts can move through tributaries and connected ecosystems, affecting water quality, fisheries, food security and livelihoods,” said Doreen Namara, executive director of Liberty Probono Initiative.
She noted that a community-led World Heritage assessment could strengthen regional cooperation and guide sustainable investment decisions.
The accompanying report recommends that Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania establish a joint taskforce with strong community participation, strengthen governance of the lake and adopt a precautionary approach to oil and gas developments in the basin.
It also calls on UNESCO, regional institutions and international partners to support scientific research, cultural documentation and community mapping efforts aimed at safeguarding the lake and its surrounding ecosystems.
The proposal adds to growing calls for greater protection of the African Great Lakes amid increasing environmental and economic pressures.
