Enforce environment laws
Nov 26, 2007
The long-awaited CHOGM has come and gone. Environment was one of the summit’s concerns.
The long-awaited CHOGM has come and gone. Environment was one of the summit’s concerns.
Barely 10 days ago, Kampala city experienced one of its worst floods in history, killing at least four people and holding up President Yoweri Museveni who was travelling to Entebbe.
A lot of property was also destroyed. The theme of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was: Transforming Commonwealth Societies to Achieve Political, Economic and Human Development.
Political, economic and human development should be seen as a dovetailed package. Neglecting one leads to the failure of the others.
The floods which have for years devastated Kampala are not necessarily a natural calamity as the works minister, John Nasasira, observed. The problem has been caused by blatant abuse of environment and failure to enforce the law.
Most of the channels constructed or rehabilitated under the Nakivubo Channel Rehabilitation Programme have already been clogged four years later. Lack of maintenance, poor drainage, erratic waste disposal and encroachment on wetlands and road reserves are the major causes of floods in the city. Investment that causes catastrophe cannot develop human society politically, or economically. Examples abound where factories and houses have been built in wetlands but no authority has raised a finger.
The National Environment Management Authority is empowered to oversee protection of environment but if it does not strictly invoke the law, destruction of environment and its attendant problems will recur. Kampala City Council must stop allocating road reserves and wetlands to developers and the citizens have a duty to realise the tragedy of flouting the law.
Unless the law against environment abuse is enforced without fear or favour, we have not yet seen the worst of nature’s wrath. It will not stop raining today or tomorrow but man’s mistakes can be corrected if there is a will to do so. It is not right to live in this country as if we are the last generation. Abuse of environment undermines all forms of development.
Barely 10 days ago, Kampala city experienced one of its worst floods in history, killing at least four people and holding up President Yoweri Museveni who was travelling to Entebbe.
A lot of property was also destroyed. The theme of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was: Transforming Commonwealth Societies to Achieve Political, Economic and Human Development.
Political, economic and human development should be seen as a dovetailed package. Neglecting one leads to the failure of the others.
The floods which have for years devastated Kampala are not necessarily a natural calamity as the works minister, John Nasasira, observed. The problem has been caused by blatant abuse of environment and failure to enforce the law.
Most of the channels constructed or rehabilitated under the Nakivubo Channel Rehabilitation Programme have already been clogged four years later. Lack of maintenance, poor drainage, erratic waste disposal and encroachment on wetlands and road reserves are the major causes of floods in the city. Investment that causes catastrophe cannot develop human society politically, or economically. Examples abound where factories and houses have been built in wetlands but no authority has raised a finger.
The National Environment Management Authority is empowered to oversee protection of environment but if it does not strictly invoke the law, destruction of environment and its attendant problems will recur. Kampala City Council must stop allocating road reserves and wetlands to developers and the citizens have a duty to realise the tragedy of flouting the law.
Unless the law against environment abuse is enforced without fear or favour, we have not yet seen the worst of nature’s wrath. It will not stop raining today or tomorrow but man’s mistakes can be corrected if there is a will to do so. It is not right to live in this country as if we are the last generation. Abuse of environment undermines all forms of development.