By Mulengera Reporters
At the just-ended Uganda Water & Environment Week (UWEWK) at the Water Ministry headquarters in Luzira, the Kampala Catholic Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere concluded his message with a reference to Psalms 24:1 which makes it clear that the Earth is God’s & all that dwells in it is God’s too.
This was the 8th time this all-important annual event, which the GoU first organized in 2018, was being held. And hundreds of stakeholders turned up to participate physically in the week-long event besides others who participated virtually via zoom. The same event was also heavily publicised on UBC TV and streamed live on several online platforms.
In a written speech, read for him by Rev Fr. John Peter Musumba (the Director for Nsambya-based Caritas), the Archbishop stressed the importance of every Ugandan getting involved in activities and processes aimed at conserving the country’s water and environmental resources. He asserted that participating in environmental protection is every citizen’s duty because doing so “is not a mere environmental issue but also a moral imperative” that ought to please the Almighty.
Saying every human has a duty to do something however modest, Archbishop Ssemogerere also asserted that one doesn’t have to be in goverment or hold any public office before being able to make modest contributions such as sensitizing fellow community members or even planting trees. The Archbishop explained that local communities and schools should also have programs aimed at amplifying tree planting among other conservation activities.
The Archbishop also made a case for wetlands’ protection, conservation and restoration. “Wetlands sustain Uganda’s water system and should therefore not be degraded. We should all stand up against encroachment and make sure that all our country’s natural resources are used responsibly,” he submitted to an audience that had several MPs, UN agencies’ representatives and Ministers like Justine Kasule Lumumba and Beatrice Anywar among other dignitaries.
The Catholic prelate also warned against reckless industrial and agricultural activities that escalate environmental degradation. “Let’s not leave this to the government only because even individual simple actions, such as planting a tree, can make the difference.”
Ssemogerere said that wetlands have to be protected against degradation at all costs because they serve as spongies which help to filter and purify water on its way to being deposited into water bodies like lakes and rivers. “That’s how we all end up having clean water for drinking or even washing, which is how we sustain our lives.”
Quoting from the Pope’s enduring message, the Archbishop remarked that “the planet is our common home as humans.” He added that: “wetlands are God-given resources and vital for purifying water, which is why they should be well managed to enhance our livelihood.” Wetlands, Ssemogerere stressed, also help to filter pollutants and dangerous chemicals which make Uganda’s water resources dangerous and unsafe.
ANYWAR’S MESSAGE:
During the same gathering of key state and non-state stakeholders, State Minister Beatrice Anywar (speaking on behalf of her boss Sam Cheptoris who was unable to personally attend because he wasn’t feeling well) revealed that the sector remains under-resourced to the extent that only 46% of the Ministry’s funding and resourcing requirements is currently being met.
This means that the Ministry is severely constrained and can’t effectively deliver on it’s mandate. Anywar then proceeded to enumerate the challenges including frequent budget cuts, inadequate protection of water bodies, river banks & lake shores; degradation of water catchment areas, pollution of water bodies, indiscriminate disposal of plastics into water bodies, rampant flowing of untreated wastes into water bodies and invasion of weeds.
Anywar also talked about the weak enforcement mechanisms which hamper effective enforcement of environmental laws and policies, which she thanked government for putting in place. She also decried unplanned urban development activities and unsustainable agricultural practices.
The Minister also spoke about poor land administration & management practices which she said lead to reduction of Uganda’s wetlands and forest cover. She also spoke about the rapid growth in Uganda’s population which combines with other factors to increase the country’s vulnerability to climate change. The Minister also called for appropriate and accurate valuation of the country’s environmental resources.
She also made reference to a review that was recently concluded on the performance of the country’s numerous national development plans (NDPs) and stressed that Uganda’s long term development objectives relating to income generation, wealth creation and creation of decent jobs for the country’s youths will only be sustainably achieved if adequate attention is paid to preservation of our water and environmental resources plus other natural resources too. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
