UGANDA: ACHOLI SHOULD FEEL ASHAMED TO BE ONLOOKERS FOR HUMAN ENVIRONMENT POLITICS ABUSES.

 

 

Theme: “Fight air pollution to protect human health and environment”

Palaro Sub-County, Gulu District is the worst hit by environmental destruction, you can hardly see trees in the whole Sub-County.

GULU-UGANDA: In 2011 when I took over Chairmanship of Gulu District Local Government we went to Loyo-Ajonga in Lalogi Sub County. We found 22 camps in Loyo-Ajonga where there were massive trees cutting by people who came from Southern part of this country.

“In those Camps indiscriminate trees cutting was going on,

So, today as we gather here in this World Environmental day meeting, the question should be what we have done to this destructive business. When we talk about tree cutting. Who give rights to that Woman and man in the village to hire their land for tree cuttings?

Martin Ojara Martin argues that when we talk to those people in the villages the property is alarming. How do we promote the environment?

Adding that there are two ways in dealing with environmental issues

 Doing it locally and putting pressure on Government.

Gulu District Chairman put the question to the participants, why does Uganda Revenue Authority URA keeps collecting taxes to that environmental destruction? He argued that last Financial year 2018/2019 URA collected 150 UGX billion.

He says Gulu District has put in place a committee to generate Ordinance to regulate charcoal burning, “We are in the process of building policy where every household is suppose to plant trees.” Ojara notes.

Ojara revealed that there are factories in Jinja that are using charcoals; there are some players within Acholi sub region who do not support environment degradation. “Sitting in office does not help to fight the vice of massive trees cutting”

Okello Kedo Geoffrey the Director for Gulu NGO Forum who move key note address says we should remind ourselves, this is what Ker Kwaro Acholi knows.

“Just you Acholi know that we should know our ancestors that we have human lives on land” Okello argued.

Okello notes that there are three fundamental issues that we should know: without sustainable environment, there can’t be any sustainable development.

Rwot Picho Oywello Edward of Ariya clan says it is good today that we are talking, we need collective effort and we must know our roles.

“We have the mean and solution to solve environmental destruction, for example when there is no rain, when people cry that there is no rain, did our rainmakers make the rain.’ Rwot Oywello Picho argued.

Adding that without rain there is no environment, we need to sensitize our people in the grassroots to understand the issues of forest. Citing that when he was growing up his father who did not go to school knew very well the way they were protecting forest.

Rwot Collins Muttu Atiko II, Rwot Patiko in his comment, says the workshops on on environment is very important for information dissemination and ideas exchange to understand the magnitude of the problem.

However, the actual facts of environmental destruction is propagated by the people in Uganda governance who make big money from it.

“The government and the officials don’t implement the laws, but instead perpetrate the vices. Acholi people are the final victims” Rwot Collins Muttu Atiko II alluded.

David Martin Aliker Chief Executive officer of Cock Media Group has this to say, “I think destruction on our environment should shift from boardrooms to the community. The approach should be change from top down to a grassroots participation of community members” David Aliker reasoned.