The Mitooma district woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Jovah Kamateeka Karamagi has condemned the selective enforcement of laws on wetlands conservation by the ministry of environment and other enforcers.
“There is a selective implementation of the law. You have heard that its the rich people encroaching on wetlands. If its the rich allowed to carry out farming in wetlands areas, we can have a farm policy to make sure they don’t tamper with the water ways.” Hon. Kamateeka said.
Kamateeka was reacting to a ministerial statement on World Wetlands Day celebrated on Tuesday 2nd February. The statement was presented by the state minister for environment, Hon. Beatrice Anywar during the 2nd sitting of the 3rd meeting of the 5th Parliament.
Citing out Lwera wetlands along Masaka road which has been encroached on by the investors carrying out sand mining activities, Kamateeka asked the ministry to set in place farm policy and clear enforcement of the law in order to promote proper wetland conservations.
“If the government policy has been made that investors carry out sand mining on the wetlands, then let it be in a planned form,” Kamateeka added. “They should also be asked to refill the mines after the mining process than leaving it open as required by the law.”
Today, Uganda joined other countries across the globe to celebrate the World wetlands Day, 2021, which is celebrated on every 2nd February of the year.
This year’s World Wetlands Day was celebrated on the theme: “Wetlands and Water.”
The state minister for environment, Hon. Beatrice Anywar aka ‘Mama Mabira’ while reading a ministerial statement on the celebration day called for the reshuffling of the enforcement of environment laws.
She further urged local governments to implement environmental conservation policies in their areas to reduce wetlands encroachment.
About World Wetlands Day
World Wetlands Day is celebrated internationally each year on 2 February. It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971.
Since 1997, World Wetlands Day has been used to raise public awareness of wetland values and benefitspromote the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
The international celebrations for this 2021 edition of Wetlands Australia has a focus on engagement, education or research activities undertaken at our Ramsar sites or local wetlands. It shares the good work being done to value and protect wetlands.
The 2021 – World Wetlands day marks the 50th Anniversary of the Ramsar Convention
The 2021 theme is ‘Wetlands and Water’. This highlights the role wetlands play in:
clean water, water supply, ecosystem, resilience, sustainable livelihoods and jobs, biodiversity, conservation, storm protection, carbon storage, climate change adaptation, health and well-being tourism and recreation
What others say:
Hon. Charles Ngabirano: MP Rwampara county.
“Parliament passed the law on environment. Unfortunately, its not being implemented in terms of financing. There is also no sensitization on wetland conservation for instance, today being the World Environment Day, we would be expecting adverts all over the media but no any radios or any media channels is talking about this. Ruceece wetland in Mbarara has been encroached on and the ministry looks on. We need your (minister) response whenever we inform you.”
Hon. Betty Aol Ocan – LoP, Gulu district WMP.
“There is heavy farming on the wetlands in areas of Luweero, Masaka. Farmers encroaching on wetlands has more implications on wetlands.
The poor people cannot tamper with the wetlands. Its the rich who reclaim the wetlands. Government should set up strategies on how to stop the rich from encroaching on the wetlands,”
