RISING water levels in Lake Victoria are causing a vast impact on the Lake Zone regions, with 519 households left without shelter after floods engulfed hundreds of houses.

The situation also triggered fears of disease outbreaks and invasion of crocodiles from the edges of Lake Victoria as its vegetated wetlands hold a large population of Nile crocodiles, with recent reports affirming that 19 people were killed by crocodiles in the past five years.

The areas exposed to danger stretch numerous inroads of Mwanza, Simiyu and Mara regions, as the average water level in the lake has increased from 1,134ft above sea level to 1,134.86ft at the moment, with the water level taken by meteorologists on April 24, 2024.

The water level rise has caused damage to roads and houses are being invaded by water, where in Simiyu Region about 413 households made uninhabitable after being surrounded by water.

Athumani Saidi, a Busega District resident in the region, said his house is located more than 600 meters from the lake edge but water has reached the residence pushing out people while igniting foot diseases since April 28.

Faidha Salim, the district commissioner, said that the district authorities had instructed the displaced people to move to schools, citing the Anthony Mtaka Secondary School. There are hopes that the water will be receding, she said, asking people to take extra precautions when planning to build houses or relocating from their present homes.

Abeid Mussa, a local leader in the area, said that on the lake shores, 34 houses have been surrounded by water and 82 people have fled to safer places, while another resident, Grace Jumanne described the situation as appalling.

If nothing is done disease outbreaks will be in the corner as toilets are equally in bad shape, a situation also noticed in other communities on the edge of the lake in other districts.  

Nyasahungu Island in the lake is among islets said to have been temporarily submerged, with 20 households largely submerged.

Musoma district commissioner Dr Halfan Haule acknowledged the reports, noting that the district authorities were taking steps to evacuate residents of the island, with no deaths or injuries reported so far.

At Rubuka, one among 12 islands in the district, four households were submerged and the household members are being kept at the Rubuka Health Centre and a number of them are being sheltered by neighbours.

 In Chato District, Geita Region, rising water levels had disrupted life in homes, damaged roads and hindered activities of the Beach Management Unit (BMU), now largely under water.

Gerald Itimbula, the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) head of communications and public relations, said the increase in Lake Victoria water level was the highest in more than 50 years.

The average flow of water from the Kagera River had increased from 198.28 cubic meters per second to 325.19 during the past month on average, he added.