Another way we could solve the buveera problem
Dec 30, 2004
SIR— Two or three weeks ago, I read a story in <i>The New Vision</i> that the Government wants to slap a ban on the making or importing <i>buveera</i> (polythene bags) in the country.
SIR— Two or three weeks ago, I read a story in The New Vision that the Government wants to slap a ban on the making or importing buveera (polythene bags) in the country.
The story said the Government would not renew licences for people trading in buveera once they expire. While the idea is a measure to protect the environment, I do not know whether there is a plan in place to take care of thousands of Ugandans whose livelihood depends on buveera.
Here in the US, where I am a student in a seminary, everything people buy from supermarkets is parked into a kaveera for the customer. I recently asked a friend, John Colis, who works in a large supermarket where I do my shopping, about buveera. He told me that buveera account for 96% of all daily packaging materials throughout the US. The difference I have observed between the Americans and us in Uganda is that Americans are so disciplined that all garbage is disposed of in a bin.
There are bins everywhere — on the roads, in homes, churches, schools, supermarkets, work places, offices — all in walkable distance from each other. Collis said the American culture is simply like that — nursery school American kids know that don’t litter, they dispose it off in the bin.
Then the buveera are recycled and used again.
Our problem is discipline and education. That is why we cut trees without planting others or build houses and roads in wetlands!
The Rev David Goobi Kataate
Jackson, Mississipi, USA
The story said the Government would not renew licences for people trading in buveera once they expire. While the idea is a measure to protect the environment, I do not know whether there is a plan in place to take care of thousands of Ugandans whose livelihood depends on buveera.
Here in the US, where I am a student in a seminary, everything people buy from supermarkets is parked into a kaveera for the customer. I recently asked a friend, John Colis, who works in a large supermarket where I do my shopping, about buveera. He told me that buveera account for 96% of all daily packaging materials throughout the US. The difference I have observed between the Americans and us in Uganda is that Americans are so disciplined that all garbage is disposed of in a bin.
There are bins everywhere — on the roads, in homes, churches, schools, supermarkets, work places, offices — all in walkable distance from each other. Collis said the American culture is simply like that — nursery school American kids know that don’t litter, they dispose it off in the bin.
Then the buveera are recycled and used again.
Our problem is discipline and education. That is why we cut trees without planting others or build houses and roads in wetlands!
The Rev David Goobi Kataate
Jackson, Mississipi, USA