There is a need to engage children on the issue of land grabbing and environmental degradation before they mature, Kikuube Resident District Commissioner has said.

Amlan Tumusiime attributes the increasing land conflicts and destruction of the environment in Uganda to people growing up knowing that grabbing of neighbours' land is okay.

Tumusiime says like Proverb 22:6 instructs: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it, there is, therefore, a need to teach and tell young people that grabbing land is a crime and a sin before God.

The RDC, who was addressing students of Duhaga Secondary School in Hoima city during their Bible reading and preaching competition on Saturday, said when you instil something in person while they are still young that person never moves away from it.

Quoting Deuteronomy 27:17, Tumusiime said: "Cursed is a man who illegally shifts a landmark and takes it. If young people get told that God Condemns land grabbing, they will not engage in the act when they grow. In Uganda, we are having a big problem of land grabbing".

"I ask you to be our ambassadors in fighting land grabbing, go and tell your parents and relatives that grabbing is a sin and God hates land grabbers," he said.

Tumusiime added that grabbing land is dangerous because it promotes insecurity, hatred and food insecurity and it has left many people suffering in the region.  

Promote environmental protection 

In the same way, Tumusiime challenged the youth to interest themselves in advocating for environmental protection, partly because, according to him, most of the people engaged in degrading the environment are young.

He added that several wetlands in Bunyoro region have been depleted by people growing rice and maize among other crops adding this challenge is likely to turn into a disaster.

"The Bible also condemns environmental degradation. Please, when you return to your homes, tell your parents and your neighbours to leave wetlands because we are going to have problems in future, especially for you the young generation" he said.

The Rev. Denis Murungi, the champlain of Duhanga Secondary School, said the competitions were aimed at developing the talent of the student in preaching and reading the Bible.

He added that such competition helps them to identify and nurture future churches and God's servants.

He commended Tumusiime who is also a former student of the school, for supporting their chapel with shillings one million to buy the music system.