Police urged to conserve environment alongside community policing

Uganda Police have been asked to spread messages about climate change mitigation through environmental conservation along their countrywide campaign in community policing.

This call was made during the launch of a report about renewable energy and climate change mitigation in Uganda. The launch took place at Kyanja, Kampala on Wednesday.

The survey was made in nine districts countrywide by Joint Energy and Environmental Projects (JEEP), an NGO with funding from the Danish Government.

The Organisation Chief Executive Officer Ruth Kiwanuka said she has for several instances involved Police and other security agencies concerning environmental protection but they have remained thin on ground.

"There has been severe encroachment on wetlands in Kasese, Arua, and Mukono among other areas but security agencies helped less in the fight against it, "she stated.

Kiwanuka also said: "In 2016, Arua district banned cutting down trees for charcoal and this has reduced people's encroachment on the existing forest thus urging other districts to borrow a leaf from them.

She suggested that renewable technology products such as solar and locally made energy saving stoves be used arguing that these produce less smoke.

"Ministry of health should involve the village health workers to disseminate information about environmental conservation information alongside spreading health messages.

The Danish Embassy Uganda secretary Larsen Soren Hogsbro said climate change is a threat globally and need strong efforts in curbing it down. He said the Government of Uganda should work shard towards conserving nature.