22 February 2009
Nile Basin countries to celebrate Nile Day on 22 February

Nile Day marks the day in 1999 when the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) was conceived by the Council of Ministers of Water Affairs of the Nile Basin Countries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, on 22 February.

It is an annual celebration and one that affords the opportunity to focus on stimulating region-wide awareness of the development, protection, conservation and management of the River Nile Basin and its resources.

On a lighter note, Nile Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the glories of the rich and varied culture which exists in the River Nile Basin region, in addition to providing an opportunity to come together and to learn more about the River Nile Basin.

The Day has been celebrated annually since 2007 in the respective Nile Basin Initiative Member Countries while Regional celebrations were launched in Kigali, Rwanda the same year.

As in 2007, 2008 Nile Day celebrations were held in each of the nine Nile Basin countries, with the Regional program being celebrated in Ethiopia, officiated by H.E. Ato Girma Wolde Giorgis President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The celebrations highlighted the theme: “Cooperation on the Nile: Sustaining our Life, Our Future”.

Last year’s regional celebrations took place in Bujumbura, the capital city of Burundi. The theme for the 2009 Nile Day celebration which coincided with the 10th anniversary of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) was ‘United in Diversity by the River Nile – Our Heritage, source for Regional Cooperation’. The celebration focused and doubling efforts to deal with some of the most critical issues facing the Nile Basin countries today.

The Nile Day 2010 Regional Celebrations are set to take place in Kabale, Uganda under the theme: “Nurturing 10 Years of Cooperation and Progress”.The national celebration will take place simultaneously in the other 8 Nile Basin countries.