The Masindi District Senior Environment Officer has called for investment of revenue earned from non-renewable resources in ventures that will continue fetching income for the country even after the resources get depleted.
Speaking at a half day awareness engagement on environmental conservation at Kabarwana Pentecostal Church in Central Division, Masindi Municipality, Mr William Nsiimire said revenue from renewable resources like tree planting can help eradicate poverty in the country once stakeholders embrace the campaign.
The environment officer who was the chief facilitator at the meeting organised by the Pentecostal church cited such countries as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Angola as endowed with natural resources like gold and oil but still rank among the poor countries in Africa,
He warned that Uganda could join the line if she does not invest the revenue it will generate from her oil in renewable ventures.
“Just like how the DRC and Angola are known to have been endowed with natural resources yet remain poor, Uganda might follow suit if its revenue generated from oil is not invested in renewable resources. There is need for re-investment to ensure that life continues even after oil and gas are exhausted,” he warned.
Mr Nsiimire advised residents of Masindi district to desist from environmental degradation to avoid adverse effects that arise as a result of clearing trees citing Kimengo sub-county as being at the forefront of environmental destruction in favour of sugarcane growing and charcoal burning.
The indiscriminate tree felling more pronounced in Kimengo sub-county for sugarcane farming and charcoal burning is likely to cause harsh climatic conditions like prolonged drought that will increase poverty in the area”.
The General Overseer of the Pentecostal Church of Uganda cum senior pastor at Kabarwana Pentecostal church, Charles Bagonza, noted that conserving and keeping the environment clean is not only beneficial but also a biblical obligation to all people.
He urged stakeholders to take the mantle, mobilise and sensitise people about the inevitability of protecting and keeping the environment clean for a healthy life.
“The Pentecostal Church of Uganda has embarked on a campaign of conserving and keeping the environment clean following the rampant environmental pollution by community members including degrading wetlands by dumping waste in them. Duty bearers should sensitise community members about the need to conserve and keep the environment clean if they are to have healthy lives and also develop themselves”, he said.
Mr Jackson Businge, the project coordinator of Finish Mission in Uganda partners in organising the meeting said that the engagement aimed at creating awareness on environment conservation after a vigorous campaign against gender based violence.
He underscored the need of restoring the already depleted natural resources in the country and also protecting the remaining ones for the betterment of diverse people in Uganda.
