Cairo University – Faculty of Engineering

Department of Irrigation and Hydraulics

Shared Water Resources Development Program

Research on “White Nile Basin “

Prepared By: Eng / Ahmed Sabry Elsayed Ali Elsaber

Presented to: Dr / Ahmed Bahaa

 White Nile Basin

The White Nile is one of the two major tributaries to the famous Nile River; the other one

being the Blue Nile.

The White Nile is a very important river for South Sudan, but it is not exclusive to this

country. All in all, the White Nile flows through six different countries: DRC, Rwanda,

South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Sometimes the term White Nile is used to refer only to the river formed at Lake No in

South Sudan, where the rivers Bahr al Jabal and Bahr el Ganzal join each other.

Normally, the term White Nile is used in broader sense and denotes all stretches of the

river draining from Lake Victoria to the confluence with the Blue Nile. When there is a

need to separate these stretches from each other, they are called Victoria Nile (via Lake

Kyoga to Lake Albert), Albert Nile (from Lake Albert to the South Sudan border),

and Mountain Nile / Bahr al Jabal (from the border to Lake No).

The most remote of the Lake Victoria headwaters are situated about 3,700 km from the

Blue Nile.

Why is it called the White Nile?

It is called the White Nile because clay sediment often make it look white.

Examples of important cities located along the White Nile

 Name Country Info

Jinja Uganda Located at the northern shore of Lake Victoria.

The second-largest economy in Uganda, and the third-

largest economy in the whole East African Community.

Juba South Sudan The capital and largest city of South Sudan.

Khartoum Sudan The capital and largest city of Sudan.

Located where the White Nile joins the Blue Nile.

The White Nile in South Sudan

From the point where the White Nile enters South Sudan at the Ugandan border, it is
commonly referred to as the Mountain Nile – or Bahr al Jabal in Arabic. This name is used
until the river enters Lake No in South Sudan. From Lake No and onward, it is only
known as the White Nile until it joins the Blue Nile in the Republic of Sudan to form The
Nile.

In parallel, the Luvirunza River in Burundi is the southernmost source of the Nile, and it
is one of the tributaries of the Kagera River, which travels a 690 km (429 mi) path before
emptying into Lake Victoria. Lake Victoria is the primary source of water for the White
Nile and is the second largest freshwater lake in the world. This lake is located in an area
rich in swamps on the borders of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, and is crossed by the
equator. This lake, in turn, is considered the third of the Great Lakes. Its area is 67
thousand square kilometers and its average depth is 40 metres.

The Nile River emerges from Lake Victoria at the city of Jinja. In this part, the Nile is
known as the Victoria Nile and flows for a distance of 70 kilometers until it enters Lake
Kyoga, which is a shallow lake whose depth does not exceed 77 meters. Then it leaves it
at the port of Masindi and continues its path through the Murchinson Falls for a distance of
500 km. km (300 miles) until it reaches Lake Albert, after 5,000 km (300 miles) after
leaving Lake Victoria, it descends about 514 meters [1]. Lake Albert has an area of about
5,300 square kilometers and is fed by the Semiliki River, which originates from Lake
Edward.

After leaving Lake Albert, the Nile is known as the Albert Nile. Then the Nile reaches
the Republic of South Sudan, entering it at the city of Nimule, where it passes through the
Fula Falls and is then known as the Bahr al-Jabal, then it meets the Aswa River, 20
kilometers from Nimule. The river then enters the dams area, which is an area of dense
swamps, and the Sea of \u200b\u200bthe Giraffes branches off from it, meeting with it
later. The river then connects with Bahr el-Ghazal and flows east to meet Bahr el-Zaraf
and then meets the Sobat River, which originates from the Abyssinian Plateau. Then it
resumes its course towards the north, and the Nile extends for a distance of 720 km (445
miles), in which it is known as the White Nile. The Nile continues on its path bearing this
name until it enters the Republic of Sudan and then passes through the Sudanese capital,
Khartoum.

Several water projects have been established on the White Nile to address various
needs and challenges within the basin. Some notable projects include:
• The Jonglei Canal Project was a proposed irrigation and water diversion project
on the White Nile in South Sudan. The project aimed to divert water from the White
Nile to replenish the Jonglei region's seasonal swamps and provide water for
irrigation. However, the project was never fully implemented due to environmental
concerns and political instability in the region.
• Nile Basin Initiative (NBI): The Nile Basin Initiative is a regional partnership
among Nile riparian countries aimed at promoting cooperative water management
and development in the Nile basin. The initiative supports various projects and
programs related to water resource management, irrigation, hydropower
development, and environmental conservation. It includes countries such as Egypt,
 Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and the
Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Irrigation and Agricultural Projects:
Various countries along the White Nile: Numerous irrigation and agricultural
projects have been implemented along the White Nile to improve agricultural
productivity, food security, and rural livelihoods. These projects include the
development of irrigation infrastructure, water management systems, and
agricultural extension services to support sustainable agriculture in the region.
• Owen tank in auganda : Nalubaale Power Station, is a hydroelectric dam on the
White Nile in Uganda. It is located near the town of Jinja, approximately 85
kilometers (53 miles) northeast of the capital city, Kampala. The dam was initially
completed in 1954 and later expanded in 2003. Here are some key details about the
Owen Falls Dam:
• The Bujagali Dam, also known as the Bujagali Hydroelectric Power Station, is a significant
hydroelectric dam located on the White Nile in Uganda, near the town of Jinja.

• Jabal Awliya Reservoir: It is a stone dam on the White Nile River in Sudan,
located 44 kilometers (27.3 miles) south of the capital, Khartoum. It was established
in 1937 AD, and remained under the technical and administrative supervision of the
Egyptian government, which built it in Sudan.