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Fisheries state minister Hellen Adoa has cautioned the residents of Uganda's eastern district of Tororo to desist from cultivating in wetlands, especially swamps, with environmental conservation in mind.

In the same spirit, she urged them to embrace cattle farming, saying the activity has a comparative advantage in terms of nutrition and income generation.

The minister warned that destroying wetlands negatively impacts the environment and weather patterns.

"I implore all of you to venture into cattle rearing and use the swamps for grazing rather than cultivation," she said on Friday while presiding over belated Women’s Day celebrations of Apetai sub-county in Tororo district.

International Women's Day is celebrated around the world every March 8.

"The returns from one single cow are much more than the 10 bags of rice or sorghum that you get from a swamp," said Adoa.

"Let's protect our swamps for better a ecological system."

Adoa urged the local leadership to protect the wetlands, saying the current floods affecting most parts of the country are a result of human encroachment on the wetlands which used to control and absorb the water.

She also urged residents to seek technical advice from the district fisheries officers on the development of fish ponds for better planning and to avoid making losses.

"Fish farming is the way to go but before you make any advances, please seek advise from the fisheries officers. My ministry will be assisting some of the farmers with the fingerlings with funds available."

Adoa said the government has decided to appoint an assistant resident district commissioner to fight corruption and misuse of government programmes such as the parish development model (PDM).

Tororo district Woman MP Sarah Achieng Opendi attended the celebrations.

She urged men to always support the development of their families by providing the necessary support and care.

Opendi, who is also the chairperson of the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association, said domestic violence is on the rise partly because some men have relegated their responsibilities to women as they idle in trading centres.

She also called upon parents to educate their children by providing scholastic materials and sanitary towels to girls to manage their menstrual hygiene. 

Opendi appealed to the Tororo district leadership to build pit latrines with changing rooms for especially girls to retain them in school when they are in their menstrual cycle.