Awoja wetland project launched

Feb 05, 2014

The Water and Environment Ministry in conjunction with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have launched a four-year project aimed at managing the Awoja wetland system in Teso sub-region.

By Charles Achoda   and Agnes Nantambi 

The Water and Environment Ministry in conjunction with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have launched a four-year project aimed at managing the Awoja wetland system in Teso sub-region.
 
The project, dubbed Awoja Wetland System Framework Management Plan, was launched at Lake Bisina Ramsar biodiversity information centre in Kapir sub-county, Ngora district on Friday. 
 
It is a component of the sh10b National Wetlands Project supported by JICA and is being implemented in the 12 districts surrounding the lake.
 
The districts are Ngora, Katakwi, Bukedea, Soroti, Nakapiripirit, Kumi, Amuria, Napak, Kween, Bulambuli, Kapchorwa and Sironko.
 
Presiding over the launch, the state minister for environment, Fravia Munaaba, observed that Awoja is the fifth framework wetland management plan in the country to be launched.
 
“This is a step in the right direction since it comes at a time when my ministry is executing yet another milestone in natural resources catchment management zones. This is in recognition of the complex interactions within and between ecosystems, which have no boundaries, for wetlands,” she said.
 
Munaaba said Awoja is an important wetland system in Uganda because of two Ramsar sites of Bisina and Opeta, which places it in the international arena because of the unique species it hosts.
 
“The wetlands here are still intact in terms of regional comparison. However, this is not the case for the rest of the country where wetland resources are being exploited, depleted and endangered through over-fishing, degradation of soil and water resources and deforestation,” she said. 
 
The sites host unique species of birds like the shoebill and is a breeding area for the mud and lung fish.
“I call on the stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and commitment for the implementation of the framework management plan,” Munaaba said.
 
At the function, equipment for the national wetland information system were handed over to the chief administrative officers from the 12 districts implementing the project. 
 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});