By Hildah Nsimiire,
OPINION
Every year, countries across the world come together to commemorate the 5th June World Environment Day. This is because the day serves as a powerful reminder that protecting our planet is a responsibility that requires both individuals and collective efforts.
In observance of the day, people globally engage in hands-on conservation and awareness campaigns such as tree planting, community clean ups, holding both physical and online joint meetings as well as disseminating key environmental messages.
In addition, governments use this yearly event to issue strong warnings to people who cut down trees, encroach on precious wetlands, litter plastics and other practices that degrade the environment.
For the last years, Uganda has always joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Environment Day, with the event being hosted in different parts of the country. However, last year’s official national commemoration was shifted to June 25 as the event was conflicting with the State of the Nation Address.
Still this year, the physical national celebrations in Uganda will not happen. A public notice was issued by National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) on 20th May saying the celebrations that were earlier supposed to take place in Adjumani District have been postponed and that a new date will be communicated in the due course.
As we wait for a new date to celebrate Environment Day under the theme ‘Climate action Begins with You: Act Now’, I would like to remind fellow Ugandans that special days such as World Environment Day should not be waited to be celebrated just once a year.
Environment needs to be celebrated daily because it is facing unprecedented challenges due to human activities such as deforestation, pollution, climate change and others. Yes, the Ugandan government through National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has taken stringent actions to ensure that the environment is protected but more needs to be done.
Therefore, I urge Ugandans to change the narrative that protecting the environment is the government’s responsibility because individual actions, no matter how small they are can create a significant impact.
Conclusively, I plea fellow Ugandans to report all cases of environmental degradation to National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and other relevant agencies if we are to protect the environment for today, tomorrow and the future generations.
The writer is a Ugandan Environmentalist.
