The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has finally reached an agreement with Speke Hotel (1996) Limited on ways to protect Lake Victoria's biological integrity while developing the Speke Resort project in Kitubulu, Katabi sub-county, Wakiso District.
This came after NEMA was satisfied with the project design assessment and revisions made by the developer under NEMA's supervision to resolve any concerns that might jeopardise the integrity of Lake Victoria and the surrounding ecosystem.
NEMA issued a stop notice to the developer on December 10, 2021, for infringement of requirements of the Environment and Social Impact Assessment Certificate No. NEMA/EIA/11651, which NEMA gave to the developer in 2020. The developer had begun construction without first acquiring a lakeshore user permission, which is a legal requirement, and there were also worries about siltation of Lake Victoria caused by dirt from the site.
On December 15, 2021, NEMA met with the management of Speke Hotel (1996) Limited to advise the developer on how to carry out the project in a sustainable manner. Following that, the NEMA Board, environmental inspectors, the Environmental Police, and the surrounding Local Government have all conducted inspections and site visits.
On April 29, 2022, the developer submitted updated designs and amended project execution modalities to NEMA for final assessment and readjustments in the project design to safeguard the lake from any possible detrimental repercussions of the project. The updated master plan and implementation procedures for the Speke Hotel Resort in Kitubulu have been examined and approved by NEMA.
In addition to the amended masterplan, NEMA has approved to the project with the following restrictions, which Speke Hotel (1996) Limited must observe in the future:
1. No permanent construction will be developed within 20 metres of the water line to safeguard the coastline from possible siltation.
2. During the building and implementation phases, no dirt or other garbage should be dumped into the lake.
3. All trash must be processed cyclically on-site. Even after effluent treatment, no garbage will be dumped into the lake.
4. The water treatment plant must be moved as far back as practicable in accordance with the NEMA coordinates.
5. The community should not be denied access to the Resort's coastline.
6. Under the technical supervision of the Directorate of Water Resources, Speke Hotel (1996) Limited shall erect beach/shore line protection gabions before construction to prevent dirt and debris from being dumped into the lake by surface water runoff during the construction period.
7. Dredging of the lake is prohibited during the initial phase of development. During the Marina establishment phase, further in-depth research will be conducted to inform any choices in this regard.
8. The area taken up by rising water levels is protected as part of the lake, and no reclamation should take place. In the event of a water recession, such land may be utilised as a beach area, and no infrastructure should be built in such an area since it is required for water fluctuation movements.
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