Residents of Sanda Village in Usenge Sublocation, Usigu Subcounty are raising alarm over widespread illegal sand mining along the shores of Lake Victoria, an environmental crisis they say has spiralled out of control under the protection of local administrators.
The unauthorized activity has triggered rapid degradation of the lakeshore ecosystem, threatening biodiversity, water quality, and the livelihoods of hundreds of local families dependent on the lake.
The sand harvesting, reportedly carried out with impunity, has led to the erosion of large sections of the shoreline, the destruction of fish breeding areas, and the collapse of natural habitats for both aquatic and terrestrial wildlife.
Communities living near the lake are already witnessing a decline in fish stocks, reduced agricultural productivity, and increasing water pollution, all symptoms of a worsening environmental emergency.
Efforts by residents to report the activity to authorities have allegedly been ignored or met with resistance, as local chiefs are accused of shielding the perpetrators.
With no meaningful enforcement from environmental agencies, miners continue to exploit the resource freely, leaving behind scarred landscapes and disrupted ecosystems.
The situation has also raised public health concerns.
Sediment runoff from the mining sites is clouding the lake waters, posing risks to people who rely on it for domestic use.
At the same time, the destruction of the natural shoreline buffer is exposing homes and farmland to flooding and further erosion during the rainy season.
Locals are now calling on the Ministry of Environment and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to urgently investigate and take decisive action.
Their demands include prosecution of those behind the mining operations, restoration of degraded zones, and the active involvement of communities in protecting the lakeshore.
“Hello Nyakundi. Let me bring to your urgent attention the ongoing and escalating problem of illegal sand mining along the lakeshore of Lake Victoria in Usigu Subcounty in Usenge Sublocation, Sanda Village.
This unlawful activity has led to severe environmental degradation and poses a serious threat to local biodiversity, water quality, and the livelihoods of communities that depend on the lake. Despite previous complaints and public outcry, enforcement actions have been limited or ineffective because the miners are protected by local administrators (chiefs). We believe urgent steps are required to safeguard the lake and its surroundings from further damage.
We respectfully request that the relevant authorities (NEMA and Ministry of Environment) conduct a full investigation into ongoing illegal sand mining activities, identify and prosecute individuals and entities involved in these operations, engage local communities in conservation and monitoring efforts, and implement restoration measures for already degraded sections of the lakeshore.
This illegal activity has led to erosion of the lakeshore, loss of habitat for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, decline in water quality, affecting both human consumption and aquatic ecosystems, and disruption of local livelihoods, especially for fishermen and farmers.”
Below are photos shared by concerned residents, capturing the extent of environmental destruction caused by the ongoing illegal sand mining activities along the lakeshore.
