World Environmental Day: Nature Is In Emergency Mode

As we prepare to celebrate the world environmental day on June 5, 2024, Uganda and the whole world should get to know that nature is in emergency mode which is like seating on a bomb that may burst any time.

Each year, Uganda joins the rest of the world to celebrate the World environmental day and this year, the celebrations are cantered on the theme ‘Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience’. This theme is very close to envirornrmntal emergency the country is facing due to ongoing encroachment on the protected areas for development.

Uganda is blessed with some of the world’s richest ecosystems and biodiversity resources, characterized by water resources, fertile diverse landscapes, energy, mineral resources as well as a rich and diverse cultural heritage. Internationally and in Africa, Uganda is among those countries endowed with the greatest diversity of animal and plant species.

However the protection of these beautiful biodiversity hasn’t been prioritized due to the ongoing developments in the protected areas including forests, wetlands and National parks ,a situation that have accelerated climate changes experienced today.

Futher, according to the national biodiversity strategic action plan (2016), Uganda occupies only 2% of the world’s area with a recorded 18,783 species of fauna and flora making it one of the top ten most bio-diverse countries in the world and the country  hosts more than half of the 1063 (53%) of the World’s population of mountain gorillas, 11% (1,063 species) of the world’s recorded species of birds (50% of Africa’s bird species), 7.8% (345 species) of the Global Mammal Diversity (39% of Africa’s Mammal Richness), 19% (86 species) of Africa’s amphibian species richness, 14% (142 species) of Africa’s reptile species, 1,249 recorded species of butterflies and 600 species of fish. These species are declining day by day for example the encroachment on Bugoma forest has resulted into increased wildlife conflict a situatiation that have resulted into death of many wildlife.

As we head to Environmental world day celebrations, it’s upon ourselves to reflect on our national biodiversity rich and ask ourselves what went wrong. The ongoing destruction is happening in the broad day light including pouring of soil in lake Victoria by investors, mining in wetlands including Lwera wetland along Masaka road and ongoing farm activities along River Rwizi in Mbarara which is  water source for over 4million people in Mbarara and sorrounding districts.

Furthermore, the country should also reflect on the decline in the forest cover that is being attributed by agriculture, investors like Hoima sugar limited among others. The current forest cover loss is significant driver of climate change within the country impacting its biodiversity, weather patterns, local climate, agricultural productivity and general quality of life.

It should be noted that Uganda has one of the highest deforestation rates with a 2.8% annual loss in forest cover and according to global forest watch, 12,263 deforestation alerts were reported in Uganda between April 19, 2024 to April 26^th, 2024 covering a total of 151 hectares.

This statics should inform NEMA and NFA to come up with strong statement with strategies on how the country can restore the already degraded forests including part of Bugoma forest that was encroached on by Hoima sugar limited.

Finally as we head to world day celebration, the government of Uganda through NEMA should do the following,

The Government of Uganda should ensure that they use some of the funds allocated under the European Union-MOU Forest Partnership to ensure that Bugoma forest is protected and part of the forest that was encroached on by Hoima sugar limited restored.

Furthermore, the celebrations should call upon the Ministry of lands to publically share the Bugoma forest boundary report and must ensure that Hoima sugar limited and any other encroachers in the forest are evicted.

The celebrations should also call upon NEMA to increase their enforcement in removing away all people doing business in ecosensitive areas including sand miners in Lwera wetland and stop any ongoing oil activities in murchison falls national park.

Further, the ongoing destruction of Zoka forest in Northern Uganda should be stopped and encroachers brought to book.

I wish all the Ugandan citizens a nice deliberations as we head to celebrate world envirornrmntal day and let everyone plant atleats one tree to restore nature.

Gerald Barekye –Inclusive Green Economy Network East Africa (IGEN)