Quality of Uganda's air improves

COVID19 | ENVIRONMENT | LOCKDOWN

Uganda registered a positive change in the quality of air during the COVID-19 Lock down.

The Director Makerere University Centre for Environmental Development Professor Edward Bbaale said this was a great impact to the environment caused by change in the lifestyle of many Ugandans.

"We have observed that during the lockdown, cars were not moving, aircrafts were not moving and factories were also operating at a lower level and so the country witnessed a clear sky for once were pollution levels were very low. Many people were moving on foot and others were riding bicycles to their places of work. These are one of the measures that if you don't drive a car but find your way to the place of work, you are contributing to reduction to pollution." Bbaale said.

Bbaale believes that if the government can come up with a related measure that will continue protecting the environment, this will greatly lead to its conservation. He states that environmental degradation impacts can also cause related pandemics reason gov't should observing that same measures used to address the Coronavirus pandemic.

It should be noted that the President Kaguta Museveni started a gradual lockdown of the country March 18. Public gatherings including places of worship, pubs, weddings, music shows, rallies and cultural meetings were suspended for 32 days then.

However, easing of the lockdown has since been effected with a few sectors still under observation.