Lets us keep our environment clean
Jun 06, 2007
THIS week on Tuesday, Uganda joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Environment Day to create awareness on issues that affect the environment. In Uganda, we should think of how the environment is in a crisis especially that we are going to host CHOGM.
By Irene Mirembe
THIS week on Tuesday, Uganda joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Environment Day to create awareness on issues that affect the environment. In Uganda, we should think of how the environment is in a crisis especially that we are going to host CHOGM.
It is at this time that the issue of landfills be addressed by people responsible for garbage collection in the city. Where do these garbage trucks dump the filth and who manages these famous landfills? Has any alternative been found to manage these landfills when they get full? Why is garbage still dumped on roadside or burnt before being recycled?
KCC and all citizens of Kampala should plan on keeping our environment clean. It is so embarrassing to walk past a heap of rotting, smelly trash in Kampala, yet we are in the 21st century.
Given the fact that this is Africa seems to put the icing on the cake. It is up to us to live up to our image. We should remove all kinds of stereotypes about our indiscipline as far as handling garbage is concerned.
The rich in our city have companies which collect their garbage. They do not care where this garbage is dumped. What happens to poor people in the slums and other places outside our city, who cannot afford to pay for garbage collection services? Our local town councils have failed to give free services to the poor people yet it is their responsibility as government representatives.
The issue of garbage should be given priority if we want to achieve a clean environment. We need to examine the way we handle garbage from our homes and take action. Careless disposal of garbage can lead to unhealthy conditions which usually affect the poor.
We must find new ways of reducing garbage we produce in our homes daily. We should start and re-emphasise garbage recycling programmes in schools and our communities. This in the long run will help us achieve a health and clean environment for ourselves. We can also burn garbage, but burning garbage can produce poison which is harmful to our health.
This habit is common in communities and should be stopped by sensitising the people about the effects of burning garbage. The media has been sensitising people, but it is time environmentalists do much more since they are experts in conserving the environment.
The writer works with
Living Earth Uganda
THIS week on Tuesday, Uganda joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Environment Day to create awareness on issues that affect the environment. In Uganda, we should think of how the environment is in a crisis especially that we are going to host CHOGM.
It is at this time that the issue of landfills be addressed by people responsible for garbage collection in the city. Where do these garbage trucks dump the filth and who manages these famous landfills? Has any alternative been found to manage these landfills when they get full? Why is garbage still dumped on roadside or burnt before being recycled?
KCC and all citizens of Kampala should plan on keeping our environment clean. It is so embarrassing to walk past a heap of rotting, smelly trash in Kampala, yet we are in the 21st century.
Given the fact that this is Africa seems to put the icing on the cake. It is up to us to live up to our image. We should remove all kinds of stereotypes about our indiscipline as far as handling garbage is concerned.
The rich in our city have companies which collect their garbage. They do not care where this garbage is dumped. What happens to poor people in the slums and other places outside our city, who cannot afford to pay for garbage collection services? Our local town councils have failed to give free services to the poor people yet it is their responsibility as government representatives.
The issue of garbage should be given priority if we want to achieve a clean environment. We need to examine the way we handle garbage from our homes and take action. Careless disposal of garbage can lead to unhealthy conditions which usually affect the poor.
We must find new ways of reducing garbage we produce in our homes daily. We should start and re-emphasise garbage recycling programmes in schools and our communities. This in the long run will help us achieve a health and clean environment for ourselves. We can also burn garbage, but burning garbage can produce poison which is harmful to our health.
This habit is common in communities and should be stopped by sensitising the people about the effects of burning garbage. The media has been sensitising people, but it is time environmentalists do much more since they are experts in conserving the environment.
The writer works with
Living Earth Uganda