Management of transboundary aquifers: key issues and challenges Dr. Callist Tindimugaya Commissioner, Water Resources Planning and Regulation Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda First GEF International waters science conference, Bangkok, September 12

Groundwater…the “hidden” resource Undercover, often forgotten, stored in underground reservoirs (aquifers) and transmitted through interconnected spaces Aquifers have huge differences with respect to their hydrogeological setting Aquifers have storage, transmission and interaction capacity

Groundwater is an important part of the Water Cycle Groundwater stored = Water resources inherited from the past millennia

Key source of water for drinking (urban & rural supplies), livestock, and small scale irrigation Has enabled communities across Africa to adapt to seasonal or perennial shortages in surface water Groundwater management is fundamental to effective river basin management e.g 80 % of the Niger River water is from groundwater. Groundwater in Africa Groundwater- dependent cities

5 Management of transboundary aquifers Around 41 transboundary aquifers exist in Africa Framework for managing TW GW: establish transboundary aquifer management organisations or integrate GW in RB ?? Promote transboundary aquifer monitoring and assessment to improve scientific knowledge Communicate scientific findings in an easy to understand language Need some form of peer review mechanism to review scientific findings

Summing up What is the role/value of groundwater in socio- economic development and improving water security What is the role of GW in greening the economy in Africa How does SW and GW interact and how to integrate GW in RBO Need for guidelines for TW GW assessment and monitoring Need to assess impact of CC on TW groundwater resources and its implications