NEMA NEWS L S V E U S D E TA I N a B L E Vol
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E National Environment Management Authorityy N T S N U E R M I N P The National Environment Management Authority Newsletter G O NEMA NEWS L S V E U S D E TA I N A B L E Vol. 19 No. 1 September 2017 President Museveni calls for conservation of Wetlands, Riverbanks and Lakeshores President Yoweri Museveni addresses a mammoth crowd during the World Environment Day(WED) National Celebrations held on 5th June 2017 at Kibubura Integrated Primary School Grounds, Ibanda District. Inside this issue... By Bob Nuwagira President Museveni calls for conservation of Wetlands, Riverbanks resident Yoweri Museveni Primary School Grounds, Ibanda and Lakeshores 1 has called upon communities District, the 29th celebrations to President Museveni on Drought in Kanungu: “We are reaping what living around rivers and lakes be conducted under the NRM we sowed!” 3 Pto leave protection zones of 100 Lake Kakyeera System restored 4 Government. metres and 200 metres respectively. Greater Kampala Region takes greater share of Approved Projects 5 He said this will protect the integrity In a colourful ceremony hosted They Said It… 7 of these fragile ecosystems, keep by Ibanda District, President Private and Public Sector Institutions, Individuals Awarded for Yoweri Museveni called upon all Environment Stewardship 8 the water clean and protect against communities living around fragile Miss Earth 2016 and WED 9 silting. The President made these ecosystems to observe the 100 I planted trees from Kampala to Ibanda during WED celebrations 9 remarks while addressing mammoth metres of river bank catchment Kidepo Project spearheads survival of the marginalised 10 crowds at this year’s World and the 200 metres lakeshores CSO’S call to Climate Action 11 Environment Day (WED) National We can handle waste in our local setting 12 Celebrations at Kibubura Integrated protection zones. Citing examples in Aflatoxins: the silent and unknown killer diseases to many 13 Turn to page 2 Supermarkets recognized for compliance to Kaveera Ban 16 NEMA NEWS September 2017 1 EDITORIAL From page 1 Together We Can hat an eventful World Environment Day (WED) W2017 commemorations. This was the biggest demonstration of stakeholder collaboration for the stewardship of our environment. 90,000 Tree seedlings from a community supported nursery bed were planted in Manafwa District in an activity spearheaded by State Minister for Environment, Hon. Dr. Goretti Kitutu. Great contributions from Eaton Towers, CNOOC Uganda, Total E&P, National Forestry Authority (NFA), National Water & Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) and others have President Museveni plants a tree at Kibubura Integrated playgrounds on WED 2017 seen the number of seedlings planted and distributed up to 300,000 so far. Kabale, Ntungamo and Bushenyi in western planting campaign where more than Uganda, President Museveni suggested that 250,000 trees were planted countrywide, The Environment Run 2017 in the current dry spells affecting communities a cleanup of Ibanda Town, exhibitions Ibanda in which thousands attended in those districts were as a result of massive of environmentally friendly technologies whose contributions supported the encroachment on the wetlands. and materials, as well as an awards giving restoration of degraded woodlots in ceremony. the district was a massive success. Local “Wetlands, forests and water bodies leaders mobilized by Ibanda Woman contribute 40% of the rains we receive in the In her remarks, the United Nations Member of Parliament, Hon. Jovlet country and contribute to the micro climatic Resident Coordinator, Designated Official Kaliisa contributed massively to public conditions of an area,” he explained, advising and UNDP Resident Representative in education activities in Ibanda district that, “We must protect these catchments.” Uganda, Ms. Rosa Malango, pledged UN’s continued support to Uganda’s quest and the western region ahead of WED. Museveni who has embarked on a country- of becoming a green economy and called Media institutions, development wide education campaign said that upon all Ugandans to become champions partners, Civil Society Organisation communities can sustainably use these for environmental conservation. and Government agencies contributed catchments to support livelihood activities lots of resources to make the most pointing out the use of the different “We are here today to remember the memorable WED celebrations. This wetlands grasses such as sedges and papyrus importance of the environment for our is the kind of collaboration that best for mulching gardens. He added that survival as a people, for the wellbeing for defines the collective responsibility Government was planning to roll out mini our families, our communities, Uganda as a to environmental stewardship. Small irrigation schemes country wide to address nation and for planet earth,” Ms. Malango individual actions that once galvanized the longer dry spells, which would draw said. She also congratulated Uganda could bring exponential results. water from such catchments when protected. for ratifying several United Nations conventions on environment particularly Together we can. On tree planting, the President also called the Convention on Biological Diversity #EveryActionCounts for the planting of trees on hilly and (CBD), the United Nations Convention [email protected] mountainous areas to protect them from on Climate Change (UNFCC) and The soil erosion and reduce on the incidences of NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT United Nations Convention to Combat landslides. AUTHORITY (NEMA) Desertification (UNCCD). This, she P.O.Box 22255 Kampala Uganda World Environment Day, celebrated said, affirms Uganda’s commitment to th Tel.256-414-251064/5/8; Fax. +256-414-257521 every year on 5 June is the United environmental sustainability. Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging [email protected]; www.nema.go.ug The French Ambassador to Uganda, Ms. worldwide awareness and action for the Stephanie Rivoal, who represented the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Uganda environment. This year’s activities included Need help? Have a question? Is it an Alert CALL NEMA UGANDA Turn to page 3 @nemaug.org 0800144444 the environment run, a national tree 2 NEMA NEWS September 2017 By Bob Nuwagira resident Yoweri Museveni has launched an irrigation initiative in the accused the people of Kanungu for area to help farmers avoid reliance on rain the indiscriminative encroachment fed agriculture. Pon wetlands and forest reserves which he Museveni also stated that the NRM said had triggered the worst drought to Government had originally chosen a soft hit the district in the recent past. approach to woo encroachers in wetlands Bob Nuwagira Speaking at a public rally at Rushoroza to take self-compliance steps but said Seed School in Kihihi Sub-county in people were not appreciating the message. Chairperson Ms. Josephine Katsya and Kanungu District in July, the President Quoting a case in Kabale, the President establish a solar powered irrigation in a strongly worded address quoted said that he encouraged a one farmer whom scheme on River Kahengye to support the Bible saying “what one sows is what he identified as Mzee Barisigara, who was farmers avert unpredictable weather one will reap,” and said of the increasing carrying out farming in a wetland, to patterns. The President also provided drought and hunger situation in Kanungu vacate and he (Mzee Barisigara) obliged. drought resistant, quick maturing and district that, “we are reaping what we This, he said was NRM’s way of handling high yielding seeds to the district to boost sowed.” cases of encroachment but was concerned food security. These include sorghum, was being abused. He castigated the local communities for millet, three types of maize, cassava and “disobeying God” by turning wetlands “I have been appealing to the people Irish potatoes, and asked local farmers to into gardens. “It is God who planted to leave wetlands and they refused. quickly adopt them. these wetlands with noble intentions Now God has given us a punishment – President Museveni likened those who but you just come and say God did not prolonged drought.” would not heed to advice to the analogy know what He was doing. You now put He added, “Scientists say that 40% of of a foolish man who when he feels potatoes where God had put marshes. the rainfall we receive comes from the hungry, will eat the seeds reserved for But God designed that potatoes will be wetlands and swamps, lakes and forests of planting and when rains come, he will planted on hillsides and valleys so that Uganda. 60% of the rainfall is made by have no seeds to plant but just to smile at wetlands become water reservoirs like we the large oceans like the pacific or Indian the garden. He also proverbially warned have granaries for grain storage, wetlands Oceans. Now to destroy our swamps those unwilling to take advice that “when are for water storage,” he said. “But now means we are depriving ourselves 40% of a wild animal refuses to heed the warnings you are destroying these water reservoirs our potential to create rainfall. Therefore, of a hunter, it becomes roasted meat.” saying God did not know what He was we are the losers we in the valleys because doing.” President Museveni in January asked all the little rain that is available only remains those who had encroached on wetlands The President said this shortly after his in the hills and mountains.” to vacate voluntarily and pave way for impromptu tour of Kameme village, On irrigation, the President