By Juliet Nanziri and Anitah Ashemereirwe,
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
¶The national celebrations will take place at King George Stadium in Tororo district¶
In the preparation for the International Wildlfe Day (IWD) that is celebrated on 3rd March, the UPC spokesperson Arach Oyat Sharon has called for the effective utilisation of natural resources to conserve the environment.
She was today 1st March, 2023, addressing the media at the party headquarters, Uganda House on issues concerning environmental conservation.
This year’s IWD theme is “partnership for world life conservation and honouring the people who are making a difference,” but Arach says that many people in society are a danger to wildlife through poor utilisation of natural resources which endangers wildlife conservation.
UPC condems the fact that some natural resources like forests and ordinary bushlands are being cleared of vegetation and replaced with new tree species such as pine and eucalyptus which are not environmental friendly as they over exhaust water from the soil and soil nutrients making soils more infertile. They suggest that government and other stakeholders limit plantation of non-environmental friendly tree species and replace them with environmental friendly species to protect the environment.
Additionally, UPC calls upon the government through the ministry of Water and Environment together with the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to set up and preserve the environment and the national emblem – the crested crane by objecting anyone encroaching on wetlands, water bodies which are habitats to both wildlife and aquatic life.
On the issue of better utilisation of Flora and fauna, Arach says that killing of wild animals should be done under culling methods such as plants and trees should have a replanting strategy in place.
UPC therefore acknowledges Japan for the steps moved as far as wildlife conservation is concerned and therefore argues Uganda to adopt the same strategy. In Japan, the wildlife law requires that government should transplant and replant any tree in a place where it is to conduct any project.
On Friday 3rd March, 2023, Uganda will join the rest of the world to celebrate the International Wildlife Day. The national celebrations will take place at King George Stadium in Tororo district with Tororo rock being the major tourist attraction of the day. President Museveni is expected to grace the function.
