NEMA Is Sacrificing A Wetland Again!
Mar 20, 2003
SIR — It seems that the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) intends to okay the Shoprite building at Lugogo.
SIR — It seems that the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) intends to okay the Shoprite building at Lugogo. But NEMA should not blame the public for not resisting this. We the public are tired and busy, while NEMA has full time staff who should be able to take strong and principled decisions.
I have read the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) at the public library. It disturbs me that NEMA could accept an EIA prepared by architects so uninformed about the environment. Is just anyone allowed to do an EIA?
It says the “site is prone to flooding†and “acts as a sink to storm runoff draining from surrounding areas.â€
So are we building on wetlands again?
The EIA justifies the project on economic grounds: 1000 jobs and sale of local produce. But what about the cost of flooding, break-up of roads and dirtier water in Lake Victoria costing National waters more to clean? And what are the salaries? Uchumi pays sh60,000 a month to shelf stackers: poverty wages. Let us be honest. No cost analysis was done here. It says the site will benefit from “improved landscapingâ€. Does that mean statues and cacti, as at Garden City? We are losing a green site!
NEMA should not approve the Lugogo site unless Shoprite pledges to:
lUse only biodegradable buveera or sturdy paper bags with handles. Car drivers should get cardboard boxes.
lSpare as many trees as possible during the construction as well as the upgrading of the playing fields.
lLandscape the shop, car park and fields with indigenous trees like musizi and musasa.
lNot dump excavated earth in wetlands.
Catharine Watson
Tree Talk
Kampala
I have read the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) at the public library. It disturbs me that NEMA could accept an EIA prepared by architects so uninformed about the environment. Is just anyone allowed to do an EIA?
It says the “site is prone to flooding†and “acts as a sink to storm runoff draining from surrounding areas.â€
So are we building on wetlands again?
The EIA justifies the project on economic grounds: 1000 jobs and sale of local produce. But what about the cost of flooding, break-up of roads and dirtier water in Lake Victoria costing National waters more to clean? And what are the salaries? Uchumi pays sh60,000 a month to shelf stackers: poverty wages. Let us be honest. No cost analysis was done here. It says the site will benefit from “improved landscapingâ€. Does that mean statues and cacti, as at Garden City? We are losing a green site!
NEMA should not approve the Lugogo site unless Shoprite pledges to:
lUse only biodegradable buveera or sturdy paper bags with handles. Car drivers should get cardboard boxes.
lSpare as many trees as possible during the construction as well as the upgrading of the playing fields.
lLandscape the shop, car park and fields with indigenous trees like musizi and musasa.
lNot dump excavated earth in wetlands.
Catharine Watson
Tree Talk
Kampala