lead contamination in Uganda - Uganda Multimedia News & Information

Uganda needs mechanisms to discourage genocide – Onyango Kakooba

Gerald Businge — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 06:49:33 +0000

The Uganda representative at pan African parliament, Onyango Kakooba, calls on government to put in place mechanisms that will discourage youth from acts of genocide and crimes against humanity. Onyango Kakooba, who is also the member Buikwe North, says that although the genocide has not been experienced in the country as some other East African countries there should be a special focus on prevention of ethnic cleansing to stop youth from being lured in acts of killing others.

He says that government should encourage and develop programmes to raise awareness among the youth on the importance of protecting human rights, value of diversity to prevent acts like genocide and all forms of discrimination. He added that there must be legislation for prevention of genocide and war crimes with financial support discouraging such acts.

In July this year parliament granted west Budama south member of parliament Jacob Oboth Oboth leave to present the private members bill on the Prevention of Genocide Bill, 2015. This bill is intended to prevent genocide, strengthen national unity and promote reconciliation among the people.

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Study finds Ugandan children at high risk of intellectual impairment

Gerald Businge — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:31:57 +0000

A study has found that Ugandan children living near Kiteezi landfill in Kampala are at high risk development and intellectual impairment because of exposure to lead metals.

The Kiteezi landfill is known to contain high levels of lead and other heavy metals which are dumped there.

Uganda children

The research evaluated 163 children aged four to eight from nine schools located near the Kiteezi landfill and found out that 20.5 percent of the children had elevated blood lead levels (EBLL) greater than 10 micrograms, the level believed to cause developmental and intellectual impairment.

The lead researcher from the US based Mount Sinai School of Medicine Leonardo Trasande says the effects have been worsened by lead contamination of the water supply system.

Trasande appealed to the Uganda government and all stakeholders involved to put in place systems which ensures proper waste management to curb the prevalence of lead in the population.

Leads remain a threat to the environment and human health in the developing world although policies have been put in place to ban lead in paint and gasoline.

Solomon Akugizibwe, Ultimate Media

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