Hydrological functions of major wetlands in the Nile Basin
| Wetland | Hydrological functions |
| Wetlands of Uganda | Most of the individual wetlands link to other wetlands through a complex network of permanent and seasonal streams, rivers. and lakes, making them an essential Part of the entire drainage system of the country (UNWWAP and DWD,2005) |
| Headwater wetlands of the Baro Akobo | Regulate flow in the Baro Akobo River while believed to play an important role in maintaining downstream dry-season river flows |
| Lake Albert | Critical link between the White Nile and its headwaters; without the flow regulation of this lake the White Nile would be reduced to a seasonal stream and could play no significant role in maintaining the base flow of the main Nile (Talbot and Williams, 2009) |
| Sudd, Machar Marshes and wetlands of the Bahr Ghazal | Significantly attenuate flows of the White Nile and its tributaries reducing flood peaks and supporting dry-season river flows, thereby minimizing the seasonal variation in the flow of the White Nile (Sutcliffe and Widgery, 1997; Sutcliffe and Parks, 1999) |
| Nile Delta | Limits saline intrusion from the Mediterranean Sea, thereby protecting coastal freshwater sources (Baha El Din, 1999) |
| SN | Name | Country | Subbasin | Area (km2) | Dominant type |
| 1 | Virunga National Park | DRC | Lake Albert | 8,000 | Permanent freshwater lakes |
| 2 | Rugezi- Bulera Ruhondo | Rwanda | Lake Victoria | 85 | Permanent freshwater marshes |
| 3 | Lake Bisina Wetland System | Uganda | Victoria Nile | 542 | Permanent freshwater lakes |
| 4 | Lake George | Uganda | Lake Albert | 150 | Permanent freshwater lakes |
| 5 | Lake Mburo- Nakivali Wetland System | Uganda | Lake Victoria | 268 – 837 | Permanent freshwater lakes |
| 6 | Lake Nabugabo | Uganda | Lake Victoria | 220 | Permanent freshwater lakes |
| 7 | Lake Nakuwa | Uganda | Victoria Nile | 911 | Permanent freshwater marshes or pools |
| 8 | Lake Opeta | Uganda | Victoria Nile | 689 | Permanent freshwater marshes or pools |
| 9 | Mabamba Bay | Uganda | Lake Victoria | 24 | Permanent freshwater marshes or pools |
| 10 | Murchison Falls-Albert Delta | Uganda | Victoria Nile | 172 | Permanent freshwater marshes or pools |
| 11 | Nabajjuzi | Uganda | Lake Albert | 17 | Permanent freshwater marshes or pools |
| 12 | Rwenzori Mountains | Uganda | Lake Victoria | 995 | Seasonal/intermittent freshwater lakes/rivers |
| 13 | Sango Bay- Musambwa Island | Uganda | Lake Albert | 551 | Seasonal/intermittent freshwater lakes |
| 14 | Sudd | South Sudan | Bahr El Jebel | 57,000 | Permanent/seasonal rivers |
| 15 | Dinder National Park | Sudan | Blue Nile | 10,846 | Seasonal/intermittent freshwater lakes/rivers |
| 16 | Lake Burullus | Egypt | Main Nile | 426 | Permanent freshwater marshes or pools |
| 16 | Bahr El Ghazal swamps | South Sudan | Bahr El Ghazal | Permanent/seasonal rivers | |
| 17 | Sobat/Machar Marches | South Sudan | Baro Akobbo Sobat | 4,041 | Permanent/seasonal rivers |