RDC Caution resident who are using wetlands to follow instructions from the Natural resource department.
RDC Caution resident who are using wetlands to follow instructions from the Natural resource department.
By Mayengo Godfrey Communication Officer Mityana DLG.
Mityana district Resident District Commissioner Joseph Drake Mukiibi cautioned all residents who are in the boundaries of the wetland to go in the offices of the district Natural resource Office so that they can be instructed on how to use the wetland and the swamps so that they can stay safe and also be reserved.
RDC Mukiibi saying this was in Maayi Sub County where the district Natural resource department organized a sensitization meeting on the people who are using the wetlands to tell them on how they can use the wetlands and those that have issues to address them so that they can get clear information.
The RDC Mukiibi said that the wetlands should be used responsibly possibly by growing elephant grass and Bamboo and expressed gratitude to the technical team and asked them to find an alternative to see how they can end the planting of Eucalyptus that was doing great injustice to our wetlands.
He further emphasized that Government does not intend to take their land but rather protect the wetlands for the common good of all the people in the country. He added that when you have good environment even life changes but if you have a bad environment that’s when you have a hot environment and ask residents to preserve the environment.
Hon Nampijja Jackline Sec Production and Natural Resources appreciated the community for attending in huge numbers and expressed her gratitude to Hon Judith Nabakooba for lobbying 50,000 coffee seedlings and also thanked the minister for the fertilizers that she gave to the tea growers and also the hoes they brought in the district and given to every household together with the technical team that accepted to come and sensitize the masses instead of convicting people.
Hon Nampijja who represented the district Chairperson Joseph Luzige she said that as the leaders they want to see people living in good hormone and she emphasized all people who are in the wetlands to follow the guidelines that are put by NEMA and the district natural resource and consult them on how to use their land.
Environmental Police Commander SSP Taban addressed participants on environmental laws, procedures and the consequences of non-compliance. Coffee farmers were cautioned about unlawful activities and the possible consequences for their livelihoods and access to markets especially under the EUDR regulations.
He went ahead to discuss degraders who claim not being aware of the law at the time of Eviction by telling them ignorance is no defense therefore all environmental criminals will be convicted at the Utility court in Makindye that is responsible for environment crimes. He requested the district Natural resource Officer to speed up the process of forming environment committees at subcounty level such that they can go witness what transpires at the utility court and finally he requested community to vacate wetlands and find alternative agricultural lands.
The District Natural Resource Officer Bbira Yasin in his remarks he first explained the meaning of environment, causes of its degradation and pointed out that the major objective of this meeting was to strategize ways of wetland protection and conservation.
He went ahead to mention some of the wetland importances and that they were all protected by law for the good of the public therefore all those with land bearing wetlands should use them responsibly.
He concluded by telling all residents that are in the range of 200 meters to the wetland to vacate them because they are in the boundaries of the wetlands.
The District Forest Officer Godbest Lubega cautioned residents who are cutting the natural forests and fail to replace the forests instead they plant other things which he said is not good. He went further to tell residents that anyone who wants to cut the forest has to get authority from the district forest officer and even those who want to plant trees must get advice from their office.
Residents asked the Natural resource office to give them time so that they can remove their products in the wetlands so that they can live and find elsewhere to cultivate from.
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