Implement Pope’s environment laws…

By Ebenezer T. Bifubyeka
Mbarara, W. Uganda.

“POPE issues new sins list,” a title shouted on the front page of Daily Monitor on March 12, 2008. This addition of seven sins besides God’s 10 - is a development Uganda should tightly embrace with her two hands or else prepare for hell’s doom!

The Pope’s laws are relevant to the deteriorating respect for our mighty environment in Uganda. I therefore hail His Holiness the Pope for enacting seven more commandments – especially the first one: “Thou shall not pollute the environment” and the sixth: “Thou shall not engineer genes.”

I wish my Anglican Church could incorporate the Pope's laws. Anyhow, Pope Benedict 16th has done his role. Let Uganda turn these laws into criminal offences, and prosecute the offenders immediately. Let’s not wait for hell fire for worse and deadly damage would have been done by the time Jesus Christ’s judgment day comes to pass!

Uganda has had a global reputation for leading Africa in formulating environmental laws. But I won’t hesitate to proclaim that the same Uganda – the whole Pearl of Africa – is the worst implementer of the environmental laws she makes!

If you doubt it, you scan last year’s ban on kaveera. The ban aborted after three months! Even before it aborted, I didn’t see anybody convicted in court for breaching the ban!

As a concerned environmentalist, I took a step to inquire from the national environmental management authority (NEMA) as to why the ban wasn’t effected. I was startled when the NEMA’s western regional public awareness officer, Jeconious Musingwire told me that, “The implementation of environmental laws and bylaws in this country is weak!”

Besides, I have heard some people say, “That’s Uganda; she can never implement her laws!” And I wonder why? Was Uganda bewitched or cursed? Is it due to the long arm of corruption! This slothfulness must cease. Enough is enough!

Does Rwanda beat us in management? Does she have better educated leaders or environmentalists than our great Uganda? Just pay a visit to Rwanda and be stunned of her first-class environmental management. The ban on deforestation and kaveera stands.

Now the Pope has dared our leaders to wake up. If they don’t, they – together with the citizens – shall definitely regret it. And the regrets will not be in the long run because climate change in Uganda is already a reality. And so says the state minister for water in the ministry of water and environment, Namuyangu J. Byakatonda.

She says global warming has changed the rainy seasons in Uganda; “I have travelled across the country and there is no rain. This is our traditional rainy season; but where is rain? It’s a clear indication of global warming. Let tree-planting be our habit,” Byakatonda told a gathering on March 13, 2008 during the launch of sanitation week held at Buteraniro trading centre, Ndaija, Rwampara, Mbarara in western Uganda.

I’m in full support of Hon. Byakatonda. The rainy seasons in Uganda have changed; dry spells are intensifying over deforestation! We rely on foreign trees. For how long shall Uganda import timber and paper simply because we don’t have enough tree species here?

My humble and heartfelt appeal goes out to the donors. Donors should attach a string of ‘environmental safety and strictness’ before releasing any aid to any nation in need. This will be a good check tool on reluctant leaders.

But before the donors intervene, Uganda carries mature and educated people. Lets change our attitudes and render environment all due respect it deserves. Reckless pollution of the environment and the genetic engineering of plants and organisms must stop. Thank you!

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