Vision Group awarded for Save Lake Victoria drive

SATURDAY VISION

By Vision Reporter

Vision Group has been recognised for its campaign to save Lake Victoria which ran for three months, from April to June this year.

At least 10 individuals, groups and companies received the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) accolade during the commemoration of the International Environment Day in Kalangala on Wednesday.

Other bodies which were recognised were Britannia, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Kalangala district local government, Kalangala town council and Kibanga Primary School.

Others were the Environment Management for Livelihood Improvement NGO, five fishing villages in Kalangala and the Rev. Father Walusimbi. Promoters of Efficient Technologies for Sustainable Development Organisation were recognised as the best exhibitors.

Water and environment minister Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu handed over the awards at the national function attended by about 1,200 people at Kibanga Primary school in Kalangala town.

Vision Group has been running a campaign to save Lake Victoria, the largest lake on the continent and second largest fresh water lake in the world.

Vision Group used five of its platforms, which include New Vision and Bukedde newspapers, Urban TV, Bukedde TV and radio in addition to Facebook to engage readers and attract reactions from the public.

A pupil gets a feel of a python which was exhibited by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) during the celebrations at Kibanga Primary School in Kalangala. PHOTO/ROderick Ahimbazwe

A number of heavy polluters of the lake, such as flower farms, tanneries and breweries were exposed during the campaign. As a result, Kamuntu promised to take action against the polluters.

The Government also promised more funding for environment protection, especially water bodies, starting this coming financial year.

This year’s Environment Day theme is “Think, eat and save the environment”.

Activities cited as destroying the environment were poor farming methods, improper drainage systems in urban settlements, oil spillages, encroachment on wetlands, release of factory effluent in water bodies and cutting of the trees.

Kamuntu noted that the seemingly harmless practice of food dumping contributes to environmental degradation because it contributes to global warming through generation of greenhouse gases.

The UNDP country director, Lebogang Motlana, said food wastage prompts increased use of chemicals, such as fertilisers and pesticides and more rotting of food, creating more methane, one of the most harmful greenhouse gases.

Environment state minister Flavia Munaaba advised those constructing roads in wetlands to build them on pillars, instead of filling the wetlands.

She explained that suspending roads on pillars would ensure that waterways are not blocked.