The government has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and a number NGOs to protect two lakes and their wetland systems in Southwest and Eastern Uganda that may be extinct due to degrading activities by the surrounding communities.

Lakes; Mburo-Nakivale wetland system in South West and Lake Opeta-Bisnia in Eastern and North East have been chosen for special protection by the government and a consortium of NGOs through an approach of supported Community Conservation Initiatives.

This is in the wake of increasingly reducing water levels in the four lakes, destruction and depletion of plants and animals (birds and fish) caused by degradation and encroachment by the surrounding communities.

UNDP, Uganda Wildlife Society, Nature Uganda and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are implementing protection through surrounding communities using collected funds of $3,817,250 in the programme that will last four years starting September 2009. "Lakes Mburo-Nakivale and their wetland system (in Isingiro and Kiruhura districts) are surrounded by about eight sub counties whose inhabitants' activities if not checked could aggravate degradation," Mr Robert Bagyenda, National Project Coordinator for in IUCN said on Friday. He was addressing leaders of the district and Sub-county local governments surrounding the lakes and wetland systems in Mbarara.

Mr Bagyenda said Lakes Opeta and Bisinia wetland system protection initiatives covers the districts of Kumi, Soroti, Katakwi, Sironko and Nakapiripiriti.

"These areas are in water stressed locations, yet surrounded by cattle keeping communities. Without this intervention, their economy would be in danger.

By doing conserving you are sustaining the local economy which is dependant on these wetlands," Mr Bagyenda said. He said that recent satellite images show water in Lake Victoria as well as these two lakes is drying up. "In these lakes water is drying up, yet they are water stressed areas. It's possible that these lakes can vanish any time and you find there is no water," Mr Bagyenda said.

Surrounding communities are sensitised to shun the degrading practices, taught and compelled to adopt environmental practices including proper fishing, cultivation and farming method practices and identify any other conservation methods. He urged the local governments to quickly pass by-laws and policies that legalise protection and conservation efforts, and integrate wetland issues in their district development plans.

Mr Bagyenda said Lake Opeta-Bisinia wetland system has rare birds, some of them endemic to the wetland system. For instance, the Shoebill, is only found in Lake Bisinia.

The communities are participating in designing of friendly activities and proper conservation methods through technical support of the NGOs. He said they are using community approach in the conservation because the use of the government to protect the wetlands has proved non-effective over time.