Ebenezer T. Bifubyeka (Ten)Biafra, Mbarara, Western Uganda.
In her column of March 31, 2009 in The New Vision, Hon. Karooro Okurut says, ‘One of the most significant developments in Uganda recently is no doubt the call by President Yoweri Museveni on Ugandans to cultivate and embrace patriotism.’
I too, applaud the president for embarking on patriotism (having love, loyalty and/or zealous support for one’s own country). But for the call on patriotism to be fruitful, its agitators need to first be patriotic themselves.
It is obvious that President Museveni successfully demonstrated his patriotism during the 1981 – 1985 guerilla war. He needs to exhibit the same in environmental conservation. One cannot be patriotic to one’s country without being patriotic to one’s environment!
President Museveni, earlier this year, said the palm oil tree-project in Kalangala forest reserve would create employment for Ugandans and generate biodiesel fuel, soap and other oil products. This is an important project but located in a wrong place!
It’s perilous to promote investments at the expense of biodiversity, which is the source of life for the citizens. Depleting forests is depriving Lake Victoria and River Nile of water! Besides absorbing large amount of heat from the sun, rainforests are wet and moisture evaporates from them, forming clouds that create rainfall.’
Bidco Uganda Ltd has reclaimed over 100 hectares of Gala forest reserve, Bugala in Kalangala district in addition 10,000 hectares of land on Bugala Island that government allocated to it for palm-tree planting in 1998. Part of that land extends to the 825-hectare-Gala forest where Bidco has put roads and felled trees to grow more palms before National Forestry Authority stopped it. About 8,000 hectares have been planted on Bugala.
The entire Gala forest and other forests are on the verge of doom, for the lease certificate issued by the Uganda Land Commission on July 13, 2004 indicates that Oil Palm Uganda Limited was offered the land for 99 years! They will do more investments and preferably in forests! Their lease hold title covers 3,439 hectares.
Had it not been the protests by civil society organisations and other conservationists in the 90s, Bidco Uganda Limited would have encroached on five forests: Gala, Banga, Namatembe, Towa and Kubanda. Are they safe yet?
Both citizens and investors cannot exist without: water, food, air to inhale, fertile land, wildlife and minerals, which are all controlled and embedded in the environment.
Why is it that Uganda is copiously endowed – but has many poor citizens? The answer is lack of patriotism towards environment! We need to appreciate who cleans air, regulates climate, controls floods and filtrates water. Who is responsible for dirty water in River Kagera?
We need investors to develop. But can’t they invest outside forests? Are forests wastelands? Who is more significant – forests or investors? Will depletion of forests eradicate poverty or escalate it?
Developing countries like Uganda should jealously protect their forests, for they are the most affected by the effects of climate change. Forests absorb gas emissions from the increasing factories.
This is the time when the US and China – that emit over 40% of the total emissions in the world – are reluctant to stop or even reduce on their emissions! How is Uganda preparing herself for the worst consequences of climate change; by cutting trees without planting others? Does that reflect patriotism?
As president Museveni preaches patriotism in schools, churches and everywhere, let his lesson plan involve the component of forest conservation, for that’s what holds the keys of life and ‘prosperity for all.’ Conservation is the greatest example of patriotism for everyone, poor or rich, to emulate.
Ends.
In her column of March 31, 2009 in The New Vision, Hon. Karooro Okurut says, ‘One of the most significant developments in Uganda recently is no doubt the call by President Yoweri Museveni on Ugandans to cultivate and embrace patriotism.’
I too, applaud the president for embarking on patriotism (having love, loyalty and/or zealous support for one’s own country). But for the call on patriotism to be fruitful, its agitators need to first be patriotic themselves.
It is obvious that President Museveni successfully demonstrated his patriotism during the 1981 – 1985 guerilla war. He needs to exhibit the same in environmental conservation. One cannot be patriotic to one’s country without being patriotic to one’s environment!
President Museveni, earlier this year, said the palm oil tree-project in Kalangala forest reserve would create employment for Ugandans and generate biodiesel fuel, soap and other oil products. This is an important project but located in a wrong place!
It’s perilous to promote investments at the expense of biodiversity, which is the source of life for the citizens. Depleting forests is depriving Lake Victoria and River Nile of water! Besides absorbing large amount of heat from the sun, rainforests are wet and moisture evaporates from them, forming clouds that create rainfall.’
Bidco Uganda Ltd has reclaimed over 100 hectares of Gala forest reserve, Bugala in Kalangala district in addition 10,000 hectares of land on Bugala Island that government allocated to it for palm-tree planting in 1998. Part of that land extends to the 825-hectare-Gala forest where Bidco has put roads and felled trees to grow more palms before National Forestry Authority stopped it. About 8,000 hectares have been planted on Bugala.
The entire Gala forest and other forests are on the verge of doom, for the lease certificate issued by the Uganda Land Commission on July 13, 2004 indicates that Oil Palm Uganda Limited was offered the land for 99 years! They will do more investments and preferably in forests! Their lease hold title covers 3,439 hectares.
Had it not been the protests by civil society organisations and other conservationists in the 90s, Bidco Uganda Limited would have encroached on five forests: Gala, Banga, Namatembe, Towa and Kubanda. Are they safe yet?
Both citizens and investors cannot exist without: water, food, air to inhale, fertile land, wildlife and minerals, which are all controlled and embedded in the environment.
Why is it that Uganda is copiously endowed – but has many poor citizens? The answer is lack of patriotism towards environment! We need to appreciate who cleans air, regulates climate, controls floods and filtrates water. Who is responsible for dirty water in River Kagera?
We need investors to develop. But can’t they invest outside forests? Are forests wastelands? Who is more significant – forests or investors? Will depletion of forests eradicate poverty or escalate it?
Developing countries like Uganda should jealously protect their forests, for they are the most affected by the effects of climate change. Forests absorb gas emissions from the increasing factories.
This is the time when the US and China – that emit over 40% of the total emissions in the world – are reluctant to stop or even reduce on their emissions! How is Uganda preparing herself for the worst consequences of climate change; by cutting trees without planting others? Does that reflect patriotism?
As president Museveni preaches patriotism in schools, churches and everywhere, let his lesson plan involve the component of forest conservation, for that’s what holds the keys of life and ‘prosperity for all.’ Conservation is the greatest example of patriotism for everyone, poor or rich, to emulate.
Ends.
Word count: 593.
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