| dc.description.abstract | Aquatic ecosystems are of vital importance considering the inter-relationships that exist between these
ecosystems and terrestrial ones. However, the physico-chemical and biological characteristics of lake
basins such as Lake Victoria are influenced by both natural and anthropogenic inputs. These inputs
originating from catchment areas may find their way through streams, Satellite lakes, river systems and
eventually enter the lake.
Research conducted between September/October 2000 and March/April 2001 in selected satellite lakes
around the lake Victoria basin (River Mara, Lake Kubigena and Kirumi ponds in Mara; Lake Malimbe in
Mwanza and Lakes Burigi, and Ikimba in Kagera region) revealed that nutrients such as phosphates,
nitrates, nitrites, ammonia and zinc tend to occur in these lakes though for most of them at levels not
exceeding the recommended values in the Water Utilization (Control and regulation) Amendment Act of
1981. Since these lakes discharge into lake Victoria directly or indirectly, it makes them potential sources
of pollution to the main lake Victoria.
This paper relates agricultural activities around selected satellite lakes in the lake Victoria basin to the
changes in the physico – chemical characteristics of satellite lakes and their potential of being a source of
pollution in Lake Victoria | en_US |
