MUK to revise water resource management curriculum

Makerere University is in the process of revising the curriculum for all water resource management related courses, the principal College of Humanities and Social Science Prof. Edward Kirumira has said.

Kirumira said "the existing programmes in Natural resources and Hydropolitics are only training engineers but when you look at water resource management it requires legal, social science and Climate change issues".

Speaking during a one day conference on Water and society (WASO) project at Makerere University Kirumira said; "the Norwegian government released a $6m approximately (over sh20b) to support Makerere University and ten other universities from Eastern Africa and Asia among others".

The project is intended to provide a forum on reflecting innovations and technologies in water resource management that is affordable and available.

The theme for this conference was, emerging issues and technologies in waste water treatment, water supply and water governance.

Kirumira said they have trained four PHDs and seven masters' students in the area of water management systems.

Meanwhile the deputy principal College Of Natural Sciences Prof. Hannington Oryem expressed concern that most of the rivers are drying up and the wetlands being filled up.  

He cited an example of wetlands in Kampala and that which is separating Luweero and Nakasongola where people have cultivated adding that soon these wetlands will disappear.

Recently the Ministry of Water and Environment launched the wetland atlas for Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso.

Wetlands cover about 19% of the total land area in the three districts but it has reduced by 14% between 1995 and 2010.

The atlas is aimed at raising awareness about the wetlands in the country and support the decision making processes, especially the April 2014 cabinet directive on cancellation of titles in wetlands.