Factors affecting the development of effective water resource management policies: The case of the management of Lake Victoria Basin in Uganda

Abstract

Partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to evaluate the factors affecting the development of effective water resource management policies. Researchers employed a purposive sampling method to come up with the most suitable respondents. The sample size of 152 respondents was computed from a population size of 245 water experts within Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) in Uganda. The questionnaire was self-administered to 152 respondents to dig out their views based on their experiences in water resource management. The authors aimed to i¬nd out the relationship between efficiency of water allocation, natural hazards and risks, stakeholders’ participation, governance and decentralization, socio economic activities and effective water resource management policies. The i¬ndings of this study revealed that governance and decentralization, natural hazards and risks, and socio-economic activities had a significant positive effect on effective water resource management policies. Governance and decentralization had the highest path coefficient (β= 0.453 and p-values = 0.000). The R2 value was scored at 0.680, which collectively explained 68% of the overall variance in the development of the policies. The study recommends putting special attention on governance and decentralization for effective water resource management policies. These i¬ndings can support practitioners and decision makers engaged in the management of water resources within LVB and other water bodies worldwide. Key words: East African Community, National Policies, integrated water resource management (IWRM), Partial Least Square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).