Arise and save Lake Victoria

SATURDAY VISION (Swagg)

By Elizabeth Achola

I am a patriotic person, meaning I can do anything to protect my country. Anything to protect all the physical features like lakes, forests, swamps and everything God created. He created them for a purpose.

It is not a secret anymore that our most cherished lake, Victoria, is being mistreated. A lake that attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. As one who loves this lake, I urge everyone to join hands to save it.

I find it totally pointless if we, the owners of this lake fail to maintain it. What baffles me is the fact that everyone thinks it is the Government’s job to look after the lake. Wrong!

Each of us is a leader, however old or young and you can make a difference. I shudder to imagine a Uganda without Lake Victoria. Some serious precautions ought to be taken. For now, I can only suggest the following:-

Dumpsters or rubbish pits must be made available. Instead of dumping waste in our lake, let each of us make it a point to have some sort of proper garbage disposal facility at home.

Dig a pit in your compound where you can burn or bury the rubbish, instead of throwing it around carelessly so it ends up contaminating our lake.

Then there are the people who have turned the lake into their latrines. For Christ’s sake, this is the 21st century. We shouldn’t even be writing about this. Very embarrassing indeed. You are the reason our the country is full of diseases.

By the way, do guys who do that think about the next plate of fish and chips they are going to order for? Eeeeeewww.

Now there is this whole water hyacinth thing going on. Government, this is your call. Seriously, do something about it and leave the rest of the citizens to do their part. Remember this is it’s not just any lake, it has a history, let alone it is the second largest fresh water lake in the world and largest in Africa!

As I’ve said before, this is our lake, our baby, our asset. It is because of it, and other features, that we are known as the pearl of Africa.

Let’s join forces and save Lake Victoria. Mine is just a single voice, but the time is now for us to act and save our lake. Ask yourself what the country has done for you and ask yourself what you have done for it.

For God and My Country.

Are you a teen who wants to save L. Victoria? SMS your suggestions on how to save the lake. Type swagg (space) your suggestion (send to 8338) across all networks. Or send your articles to the editor; tachidria@newvision.co.ug