Why protecting the environment is a responsibility, not a choice

_______________

OPINION

By Friday Byamukama

Currently in Uganda, the weather conditions and seasons have drastically changed, thus impacting both positively and to a greater extent negatively. Previously, the rainy seasons and dry seasons were predictable, and farmers would plan accordingly when to plant and minimise agricultural losses.

To date, this phenomenon has changed; farmers have experienced animal deaths, and the government has suffered loss of wild animals that depend on pasture and water sources that have since dried up.

It is evident that drought periods are now longer than rainy seasons, and as a matter of fact, the costs of managing agricultural activities have escalated.     

Farmers struggling with failed seasons and erratic conditions have since embarked on the trek to different areas deemed to have big chunks of land and rivers for water.

The farmers are troubled, and the nomadism caused by seasons has also caused political outcry, like the one that appeared in all newspapers that prompting the President to give directives. It should be noted that Balalo lost money in acquiring land and in shifting cattle back and forth. 

Urgent Attention from the Ministry of Water and Environment through NEMA.

1. Protect natural habitats: Strengthen enforcement against deforestation and wetland degradation, like one in Lubigi Nansana. Encourage communities to plant trees and restore cut-down areas like Mabira Forest (Afforestation and reforestation).
2. Adopt new modern agricultural practices. The communities can be encouraged to build valley dams, and those that are not capable can lobby the government for the same.
3. Hold industries accountable for harmful emissions and waste disposal. There are many industries coming up in Nakasese and Mbarara, etc. The Government needs to regulate their practices to minimise the impact of emissions and any other forms of waste disposal.
4. Launch campaigns to help citizens understand their role in protecting ecosystems.
5. Work with schools and local leaders to promote environmental stewardship.

A call for immediate action

The Ministry of Water and Environment and NEMA have the authority and the responsibility to act decisively. We need policies that are not only well-drafted but also well-implemented. We need action that is transparent, inclusive, and impactful.

You have the power to bring together government bodies, the private sector, communities, and development partners to use it. The environment is our shared heritage. Protecting it is not a choice; it is a necessity. We urge NEMA to take bold, urgent, and sustained action to safeguard Uganda’s ecosystems from the worsening impacts of climate change.

The writer is the CEO BEMUGA Group