Njeru, Nile Breweries in campaign to protect River Nile banks

ENVIRONMENT | RIVER NILE 

Njeru municipal council in Buikwe district in partnership with development partners and environment activists has launched the planting of trees along the banks of River Nile to stop calamities on the water body.

The six-week exercise in which over 8,000 trees will be planted, is being done in conjunction with Nile Breweries Limited and Eskom Uganda Limited.

"It will cover the stretch from the old bridge at Nalubaale dam across the new Nile bridge up to the source of the River Nile, on the western side of the river, John Busiku, the Njeru senior environment officer," said.

"Restoration of the degraded vegetation on the river banks will help stop silting and the likely calamities such as floating islands," Busiku said. 

In April 2020, a floating island invaded River Nile blocking the Nalubaale power generation dam in Jinja which led to a nationwide power blackout.

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in a brief then, said the suds previously located at Kirinya on Lake Victoria, broke into two following years of environmental degradation resulting from human activity.

More islands have since been sighted on the Lake Victoria near Masese landing site headed towards the dams. Authorities have however embarked on an exercise to excavate them before they can cause any damage.

During the tree planting exercise that will last six weeks, Mvule, Musizi and Gravellia tree seedlings will be planted.

Thomas Twinamasiko, the environment and safety manager of Nile Breweries Limited (NBL), noted that restoration of the green vegetation also helps limit carbon emission into the environment.

The country director of NBL, Thomas Kamphuis, said their participation in the campaign is meant to spread community awareness on the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability.

"We work in partnership with communities where we are located," he said, adding that in 2019, NBL donated sh 505 million towards the restoration of the River Rwizi catchment in Mbarara district.

"Brewing quality beer starts with the best ingredients. At NBL, therefore we acknowledge the need to continue our environmental sustainability journey as we need to work together in order to protect the environment as our product relies on healthy, natural environments and thriving communities," Kamphuis observed.

Eskom risk manager Kennedy Ggwanga asked corporate bodies to always take a lead in fighting environmental degradation so as to minimize its repercussions on the communities.