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Rebecca Kadaga the Speaker of Parliament, has joined other environment activists to demand an end to razing down of forests. These acts she says are mainly perpetrated by government officials.
Speaking during this year’s Running out of Trees (ROOT) Initiative which targets to plant 40 million trees countrywide which also coincided with celebrations to mark World Forest day, Kadaga said she was baffled by big names involved in deforestation.
“I went to Lamwo and the people were whispering to me the ones cutting down trees are leaders. I was later told it is one of the ministers. In this famous Bugoma forest, there are big names involved. It is not small people, but very big names in the country. During the day, they are talking environment. But behind our backs, they are busy cutting down forests for sugarcanes,” Kadaga said on Sunday.
Bugoma forest has been in the news for the last two years or so because of the cutting down of trees for sugarcane growing.
NEMA recently cleared Hoima Sugar Limited to use the forest reserve for sugarcane growing when it issued a certificate of approval for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment report.
The Speaker of Parliament said it is embarrassing that the people with the task to protect forests are the ones leading efforts to raze them down.
She noted that despite efforts by parliament to have a tree fund, the same has been frustrated by the government.
“I have complained about the absence of the tree fund. Two years ago, we put it in the budget but when it went to the Ministry of Finance, they removed it yet it is part of our law. 17 years after the National Forestry Act, we have not had it. I have talked about the national tree planting day but it is not yet in effect. If serious managers don’t see the benefit of tree planting, what will the ordinary person do,” Rebecca Kadaga wondered.
The State Minister for Environment, Beatrice Anywar said there is need to strengthen the existing laws. This will ensure they are not only barking dogs but can also bite those in the wrong.
“We need to strengthen our laws more. Because if we don’t deter people from cutting trees without knowing they are going to Luzira for some time, they will continue. As we grow more trees, we need to have efforts to protect the ones already planted,” Anywar said.
The Minister for Water and Environment, Sam Cheptoris 65% of forest degradation takes place on private land and on several occasions the landowners choose land-use change from forestry to agriculture, industry or settlement over biodiversity conservation.
Check Also;
- Civil Society Activists Warn Government Over Biodiversity Loss
- Climate Change And African Farmers, What This Battle Means
- Climate Change: European Union Earmarks Shs12b To Save Part of Uganda’s Forest Cover
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://i0.wp.com/newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
