President Yoweri Museveni has announced his plan to issue an executive order to stop the destruction of wetlands and other natural resources.
During the country’s 61st Independence Anniversary Speech, the president emphasized the importance of preserving natural resources like wetlands, forests, rivers, lakes, and water towers, which provide essential necessities like air, water, and food.
Museveni stressed that protecting these environmental assets, which contribute to rainfall and water supply, is crucial for ensuring there’s enough food and water for everyone.
Museveni also suggested that those involved in wetland rice cultivation switch to either irrigated rice farming on non-wetland areas or fish farming near the edges of wetlands to allow wetland recovery. He advised farmers to leave, as their presence was a mistake.
He specified that indigenous residents living within 100 meters of lake shores and riverbanks must vacate, except for factories already established on wetlands. Museveni also mentioned that factories wrongly licensed but not yet built should be given alternative land.
He made it clear that only residential houses and hotels following environmental regulations, like tree planting and maintaining green spaces, would be allowed near rivers and lakes. Structures in wetlands would need to be removed.
The President said Uganda needs to protect its water sources, as the country gets less water from its water bodies compared to neighboring countries.
Museveni stressed that Uganda must set a good example by managing its water bodies properly to have moral authority when dealing with shared rivers in the region.
“We should set a good example by correctly managing the water bodies within our jurisdiction. We will, then, have the moral authority to approach the brother African Countries about the shared rivers.” he said
Reports show that Uganda’s wetland areas have decreased by 30 percent between 1994 and 2008.