The Save the Nile Project is an environmental protection supported by the Avraham Ben Avraham Foundation (ABAF), which is focused on preventing plastic waste from entering the River Nile by stopping it at its source— Lake Victoria.
The River Nile begins from Lake Victoria. This means that whatever enters the lake eventually finds its way into the Nile. To truly protect the Nile, action m
ust begin at Lake Victoria, where plastic pollution is already threatening aquatic life, human health, and local livelihoods.
The Challenge
Buvuma District is made up of 52 islands, many of which are inhabited. These island communities produce plastic waste daily, yet most of the islands do not have proper waste disposal features. As a result, plastic waste is often left on the ground or near the shorelines. During heavy rains and strong winds, these plastics are easily washed or blown directly into Lake Victoria, where they begin their journey into the Nile River system. The Save the Nile strategy is simple: Rather than allowing plastics to drift from Lake Victoria into the Nile, the project focuses on collecting them from the islands before they enter the water.
Central Sorting Yard – Yebwe Island
Plastics collected from multiple islands are transported to Yebwe Island, which functions as the main temporary collection and sorting center. There, plastics are sorted and cleaned.
Categorized into clean plastics, dirty plastics, very dirty plastics, and plastic covers. In addition to Yebwe, a secondary central yard is being planned in another part of Buvuma to expand capacity. Once sorted and packed, plastics are transported by boat to a holding dump yard on the mainland. From there, they are transferred to recycling plants for proper processing. This system ensures plastics are removed from the lake ecosystem and returned into productive use through recycling.
Why This Matters
By stopping plastic pollution at Lake Victoria, the River Nile is protected downstream, preserving fish stocks and aquatic biodiversity. This, in turn, improves sanitation and health in island communities. Ultimately, this initiative fosters environmental responsibility and encourages local participation.
Saving the Nile begins with saving Lake Victoria.
Through community engagement, structured collection, and responsible recycling, the Save the Nile Project is transforming islands that once leaked plastic into the lake into frontline defenders of Africa’s most important river.