Scenery of Nile River near Bor. Photo: Koang Pal/Eye Radio

Uganda has called on the countries which share the Nile to continue to co-operate on the future of the River.

The call comes at the conclusion of the 21st Nile Council of ministers meeting, which has been held in Juba.

The annual conference has come at a time of tension between Egypt and Ethiopia, over Addis Ababa’s plan to dam the Nile to create one of Africa’s biggest hydroelectric schemes.

Uganda’s minister for water, Professor Ephraim Kamuntu, has told the meeting: it is vital that all 10 nations who are members of the Nile Basin Initiative work together to build on what has been achieved already:

“There have been a few skirmishes over the use of the water, but let me emphasize, it is through the legal framework we have established, it is through dialogue, it is through mutual trust,” said Hon. Kamuntu.

“Only then can we survive and use this shared resource very effectively.”

South Sudan has now taken over the chair of the Nile Council of Ministers.

The position is rotated through all the member countries.