Geophysical characteristics

• The lake is shared between Uganda and DRC.
• It has five in flowing rivers (Nyamugasani, Ishasaha, Rutshuru, Rwindi, Ntungwe, Lubilia) and one outflow (Semliki) and connected to Lake George by a 36 km Kazinga channel.
• Most of the water into the lake comes from river discharge (~76%) followed by rainfall (~24%) and is lost through evaporation (~54%) and river outflow (44%).

Demographic characteristics

• The lake has high basin population varying between 25-250 persons/km2.
• There is poor sanitation and limited access to clean water.
• There are high incidences of water borne diseases.
• There are limited livelihood options as the lake is located within national parks which are protected areas.

Fishes and fisheries

• The lake has 81 fish species of which 60 species are cichlids, 92% of them endemic.
• It is an important sources of high quality animal protein for riparian communities..
• The fishery consists of Nile tilapia, African catfish, Bagrus, and lungfish whose stocks are declining but have not collapsed as has been the case of large species in other lakes.
• Annual fishery yield is about 17,000 tons supporting about 2000 fishers.
• There are proposals to exploit the abundant haplochromine cichlids but this needs to be done cautiously as experience from lakes Victoria and Malawi show that haplochromines are not resilient to heavy commercial exploitation.
• Cage aquaculture has started on a small scale and can provide an alternative livelihoods options for fishers and should be developed.

The lake habitat

• The lake is monomictic and experiences prolonged stratification and anoxic conditions below 80m.
• There have been no major changes nutrient, water quality, phytoplankton species composition or chlorophyll-a.
• Copper pollution from adjoining Lake George is a threat to the lake Edward/George system.

Basin factors

• There are, as for Albert, sometimes conflicts along national borders between Uganda and DRC.
• The lake is partly surrounded by two national parks (Virunga, Queen Elizabeth) which are important for tourism and partly shield the lake from impacts of human activities.
• The lake and its surroundings are important biodiversity areas with diverse flora and fauna of mammals, birds, amphibians, fish and plants.
• Salt mining takes place on near the lakes and provides an alternative livelihoods option for fishers if it can be developed.

Governance

The governance system of Lake Edward is generally similar to that of Lake Albert.

Interventions

• Promote alternative livelihoods for fisher communities.
• Improve sanitation and manage water related diseases such as bilharzia.
• Control fishing effort and develop species specific fishery management plans especially for the abundant stocks of small pelagic fishes.
• Pursue the development of mechanisms to generate, harmonize and share management information and data between DRC and Uganda.
• Promote tourism.