Photo credit: snipview.com

The National Forestry Authority (NFA) and the Ministry of water and Environment calls on members of parliament to advocate for the climate change fund. This comes as environmentalists and youth were discussing promotion of tree planting with members of parliament at parliament. The head of climate change in the ministry of water and Environment Chebet Maikut says that creating the climate change fund will add more resources to climate financing from government and development partners. Chebet also said that parliament should consider reducing the cost of electricity and biogas to reduce pressure on the forests for charcoal burning.

The Director corporate Affairs at the National Forestry Authority Paul Buyerah Musamali asked members of parliament and other people with some income to stop using charcoal to deny charcoal dealers market and think about the alternative methods of cooking.

The member of parliament for Gulu municipality says that other areas should develop a culture of Baganda  where by  some species  of trees and animals are taken as totems and guarded jealously which is one way of protecting the environment from degradation. The woman member of parliament for Masaka district Babirye Kabanda says that  its time for the country to blacklist the persons who are highly involved in the degradation of environment through cutting trees for charcoal  burning as an action to stop unnecessary cut of trees.

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The director water development in the ministry of water and environment, Eng. Aaron Kabirizi says that saying  30% of Ugandans always don’t wash their hands after visiting toilets and again 30% of Ugandan households don’t have toilets which gives more justification for the losses in terms of money which he says in the long run impacts on the economic and social growth of this nation. Eng. Kabirizi also notes that though there are still glaring sanitation statistics in the country much has been done to check on the problem as he confirms that now rural clean water sources are  standing at 80% (15000) though 35% Ugandan households have no access to clean water.

However, the country director water Aid Uganda, Eng. Francis Musinguzi wants water and sanitation issues to be highlighted for Ugandans as the country strives to move to a middle income earning status.

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Photo credit: Ralph Boer

The Water and environment minister, Ephraim Kamuntu, is calling for increased funding into the water sector so as to increase access and availability of the resource among the communities across the country since it’s a necessity to human lives. Speaking at a national dialogue on fresh water and sustainable development where stakeholders in the water and environment sector have been discussing on how to manage, preserve and sustain the resource, Kamuntu emphasized the strong need and use water has to this nation and its citizens but at the same time he is concerned that the country has less interest in protecting the waters and funding the sector to see to it that all Ugandans access water which has also seen many women and children trek long distances in search for water for domestic and commercial use.

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Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda and the Chinese Minister for State Forestry Administration, Mr. Zhang Jianlong with their delegations

The Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda has applauded the existing cordial and mutually beneficial relationship between the People’s Republic of China and the Government of Uganda. Dr Rugunda said Uganda was happy to benefit from China’s expertise in environmental conservation and technology.

The Premier made the remarks while receiving the visiting Chinese Minister for State Forestry Administration, Mr. Zhang Jianlong who called on him at the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday. The Chinese Minister was in the country to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the State Forestry Administration of the People’s Republic of China and Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment. The cooperation will enhance technology transfer, research and development, institutional capacity building and information sharing between the two countries.

China and Uganda will work together to promote afforestation, sustainable forestry management and development of the forest economy. The partnership will also focus on bamboo growing and boosting of community forestry. The Premier said Uganda was happy to embrace bamboo development which was critical in environmental conservation and income generation. Bamboo is one of the most important agricultural plants in the world with hundreds of uses. It is a source for construction materials, household items such as furniture and decorations, food, medicine and musical instruments among others.

The Chinese Minister welcomed the partnership and urged government to develop capacity in the forestry sector, adding that the private sector could be brought on board especially in bamboo development. He said China was ready to introduce new species of bamboo trees in the country. Almost every household in China has something made of bamboo such as beds, chairs, baskets and chopsticks.

The Meeting was also attended by the Minister of State for Environment, Flavia Munaaba Nabugere and the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zhao Yali.

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