Kiryandongo leaders convene to discuss environment protection

Kiryandongo, (UG):- The Kiryandongo District Environment and Natural Resources committee has convened to lay strategies for addressing issues affecting the protection of Natural resources.

The meeting convened Tuesday, February 11, at the district headquarters was attended by members from the District and all the four Town councils of Kiryandongo, Kigumba, Bweyale and Karuma.

While addressing the committee, Ms Zalfa Businge the District Natural Resources Officer informed members that the District was grappling with rampant deforestation, land degradation, wetland resource degradation, loss of wildlife habitats and biodiversity as well as urban pollution which has compromised the quality of Natural resources.

Ms Businge added that the District has taken steps to address the issues through sensitization, promotion of renewable alternative energy options, wetland boundary demarcation and tree planting.

Anselm Kyaligonza the CAO Kiryandongo noted that there was a lot of charcoal burning in the District which called for immediate implementation of the charcoal production ordinance so as to save the remaining woodland.

He urged the committee to take on the environmental challenges surrounding them so as to restore the environment.

As a way of promoting environmental conservation, Mr Kyaligonza asked the committee to encourage institutions such as schools and health centres as well as communities such as boda boda riders to plant trees. He also encouraged the planting of trees on social occasions such as marriage, death and childbirth.

Mr Jonathan Akweteireho the Deputy RDC expressed concern about the deteriorating environment orchestrated by the current generation.

“The issue of environmental protection is very serious. We have destroyed the environment as if we are the last generation. The protection is failing because the leaders are involved in activities which destroy the environment.” Akweteireho said.

Akweteireho also called upon the government to consider subsidising alternative energy sources for households to reduce on the consumption of fuel wood. He also encouraged the CAO to issue a directive for all schools to establish tree nursery beds and distribute seedlings to learners.

Ms Edith Aliguma Adyeri, the District LC5 chairperson for Kiryandogo informed the members that the local government council was committed to supporting the activities aimed at restoring the environment as evidenced through a number of policies such as the charcoal production ordinance in a bid to minimize excessive cutting of trees for fuel wood.

The District Natural Resources Committee is established by the NEMA Act of 2019 to promote public participation and involvement in the environment and Natural Resource Management.