Take buffer zones serous community along lake and rivers asked

28 August 2026, 7:17 am

Ali Lukomo

According to Buyende district environment officer Mrs Namuddu Rebecca buffer zones do not only help the environment and climate calm but also helps in the filtration of water into the water Bodies. In an interview with her, the community around the water Bodies do have that pride of living a around or near the lake but in turn to affects both the the water body and the the community because some of them carry out human activities like farming and destroy the green cover around the buffer zone which plays the important role of filtering and covering the lake of any other water body in addition she said the buffer zones need to be protected because which the water becomes too much it also send them a Way naturally which may lead to there permanent displacement. Rebecca also said the aquatic life is also affected when the buffer is destroyed or removed because it’s the feeding areas of the water animals like fish and others.

Accoding the Namuddu Rebecca that’s not right she instead encouraged the community around to plant more trees around the buffer but not too near again for the safety of the land around.

The buffer zone have there recommended distances according to the National environment management Authority.

A buffer zone is the protected strip of land between human activity and the water. In Uganda it’s legally 200m from Lake Victoria and other major lakes, and 30-100m from riverbanks depending on the river – no permanent structure allowed without NEMA approval.

• Water filtration: Vegetation in the buffer traps silt, fertilizers, sewage and oil from surface runoff before it reaches the lake/river. It removes pollutants from runoff.
• Erosion control: Roots hold the bank together and grass/trees slow down runoff, so the shoreline doesn’t collapse. The inner 50m is considered critical for protecting physical and ecological integrity.
• Flood control: It’s a natural sponge. It stores excess water during heavy rains and releases it slowly. When it’s encroached, you saw what happened in 2020 – water levels rose and reclaimed homes and beaches in Munyonyo, Entebbe.
• Biodiversity habitat: Buffer zones are breeding grounds for fish, birds, and wetland species. They are described as essential for the survival of lakes and act as a buffer between lake and land
• Water quality and temperature: Shade keeps water cooler, which helps fish like tilapia. Without it, you get more algae, less oxygen, and more water hyacinth.
• Livelihood protection: Fish landing sites, clean water intake for NWSC, and protection of communities from being displaced by floods – that’s why districts like Nakasongola are now demarcating with concrete pillars.