A blue-green algae has once again invaded Lake Victoria and the government now needs Shs5.9b to arrest the situation, the Minister for Water and Environment has said.

Ms Maria Mutagamba told the parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources that the government needs the money to purchase better equipment to avert the spread of the algae.

"The colour of the lake has all turned green and we need to quickly move in otherwise we are headed for a crisis," Ms Mutagamba said. "The blue-green algae is an indication of the status of our environment because a lot of unwanted material is going into Lake Victoria."

Pollution, according to experts, provides the necessary nutrients for algae growth.

Fisheries experts say heavy concentrations of pollutants are killing certain fish species and also cause water-borne diseases in people.

Legislators' demand

Legislators demanded that the minister explains in detail the implications of such toxic algae. The Commissioner in charge of Water and Quality Management, Ms Florence Adongo, said yesterday that the algae has caused increased water treatment costs at Gaba Water Plant which are passed on to consumers.

"In 1992 water cost Shs20 per cubic metre but as we talk now, it costs Shs90 per cubic metre and the consumer feels the pinch. Some of the species of algae are dangerous and we need to do a detailed analysis," she said. "We need services of experts to help advise on the safety because all our lakes are suffering as a result."

Last year, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation was considering extending its intake pipes deeper in the lake as pollution near the shore exceeds treatable levels.

Ms Mutagamba indicated in the ministry's policy statement submitted before the committee that most of the lakes' water levels have receded and the water quality is deteriorating as a result of increasing siltation.

Development experts say the pollution problem will only worsen as the city's population increases. Early this year, Murchison Bay, Lake Victoria's northerly inlet on which Kampala sits, was attacked by the algae.