Assessment of the role of indigenous knowledge in water resources management in lake Victoria basin the case of Ngono river sub catchment

Tanzania has experienced wide spread shortage in its surface and ground water in many areas .The water shortage results from a number of factors including increasing mult- sectoral demands, degradation of water catchment due to pollution .Over abstraction, poor land use practices and encroachment of the land for agriculture ,urbanization and industrial development. The study aimed at assessing the role of indigenous knowledge in water resources management in Lake Victoria basin, Ngono river sub- catchment as case study. Different indigenous knowledge and practices were assessed and key basic information was obtained from elders and local communities in general. In depth questionnaires survey was carried out in order to identify different local knowledge and its role in water resources management. Observation method also was used to see how indigenous knowledge was practiced within the community. Purposive sampling was used and a total of 99 respondents were interviewed. And results shows different indigenous knowledge which can be developed and emphasized in IWRM as a means for equitable and sustainable water resource management. The study concluded that water availability problems can not only be solved by government laws and policies or formal institution. Informal institutional and indigenous knowledge should be involved in water resources management so as to have full integrated water resources management. Indigenous knowledge should be recognized, promoted, and developed protected and marginalized in the water resource sector