OCCURRENCE OF HUMAN PATHOGENIC BACTERIA IN LAKE VICTORIA SHORE WATER AND Oreochromis niloticus AT KASENYI LANDING SITE, WAKISO DISTRICT IN UGANDA

Background: As of 2008; human pathogenic bacteria were being identified in lake water and fish and by 2017; it was still a persistent problem in the aquatic environment up to date. Sources attributed to their presence in lake water and fish include; surface run-off from land, sewage discharge, sewage over flow, run-off of domestic and wildlife animal waste, direct waste deposition by grazing animals among others. Mitigation for aquatic ecosystems degradation over the years has been attempted through field and / or laboratory-based bacteriological monitoring of lake surface water quality. Methods: A cross-sectional laboratory-based survey was undertaken at Kasenyi landing site. Thirty-one (n=31) Lake Victoria shore water samples and thirty (n=30) Oreochromis niloticus samples were collected and bacteriologically examined for Staphylococcus species, Enterococcus species, and Enterobacteria. Data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2013 software to compute the chi-square and p-values.  Results: Citrobacter freundii was the most occurring human bacterial contaminant in water at 71% (22/31) while Klebsiella pneumoniae was the least occurring human bacterial contaminant at 6% (2/31). In the Orechromis niloticus organ samples; the most occurring was Enterococcus species at 77.5% (93/120) while the least occurring was Citrobacter freundii at 39% (47/120). There was no statistically significant relationship between the occurrence of bacteria in the Lake Victoria shore water and in the Oreochromis niloticus organs. Conclusion: Citrobacter freundii had the highest occurrence in the Lake Victoria shore water while Enterococcus species had the highest occurrence in all the four Oreochromis niloticus organs. A chance-based relationship between the occurrence of bacteria in the Lake Victoria shore water and in the specific Oreochromis niloticus organs was established. Recommendation: A larger sample size research to evidence the potential sources of human pathogenic bacteria into the Lake Victoria shore water and the fish at Kasenyi landing site.