Lake Victoria pollution spells doom
Jun 15, 2010
EDITOR—On June 9, The New Vision published an article about the rate at which Lake Victoria is getting polluted. I was terribly disturbed by the photograph of part of lake that has been declared dead, around Murchison Bay in Luzira.
EDITOR—On June 9, The New Vision published an article about the rate at which Lake Victoria is getting polluted. I was terribly disturbed by the photograph of part of lake that has been declared dead, around Murchison Bay in Luzira.
One member of the inspection team, the commissioner for water quality, Florence Adong, observed that the dead area of the lake would take 40 years to clean up! I just imagined the length of that period and how much investment it would require and the continued pollution!
If this is what is beginning to happen to our environment, the wetland degradation notwithstanding, where is our country destined to? Have we really thought of our dear children, grandchildren and great-grand children who have more time after us assuming an epidemic does not erupt due to pollution?
What are the priorities in our national budget? Do we care to scrutinise and debate these issues as citizens of this country who have a right to a decent environment? Have we ever imagined a catastrophe that can emerge from pollution?
I request everybody who reads The New Vision to look at that picture again. I am beginning to see terrible and tough times ahead of us as a nation. Some of the officials who comprised the inspection team were Janat Mukwaya, Kabakumba Matsiko, Jennifer Namuyangu, Jesica Eriyo, Matia Kasaija and Ruth Kijambu. Apart from Kijambu, all the officials mentioned are ministers.
There were also a host of other experts and Government officials. What is the future of this nation if we can watch our environment being destroyed under our very noses?
John Bosco Obore
National Forestry Authority
One member of the inspection team, the commissioner for water quality, Florence Adong, observed that the dead area of the lake would take 40 years to clean up! I just imagined the length of that period and how much investment it would require and the continued pollution!
If this is what is beginning to happen to our environment, the wetland degradation notwithstanding, where is our country destined to? Have we really thought of our dear children, grandchildren and great-grand children who have more time after us assuming an epidemic does not erupt due to pollution?
What are the priorities in our national budget? Do we care to scrutinise and debate these issues as citizens of this country who have a right to a decent environment? Have we ever imagined a catastrophe that can emerge from pollution?
I request everybody who reads The New Vision to look at that picture again. I am beginning to see terrible and tough times ahead of us as a nation. Some of the officials who comprised the inspection team were Janat Mukwaya, Kabakumba Matsiko, Jennifer Namuyangu, Jesica Eriyo, Matia Kasaija and Ruth Kijambu. Apart from Kijambu, all the officials mentioned are ministers.
There were also a host of other experts and Government officials. What is the future of this nation if we can watch our environment being destroyed under our very noses?
John Bosco Obore
National Forestry Authority