Mpigi District CBOs launch campaign to save Wetlands

Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) in Mpigi district yesterday launched a campaign to save Wetlands from being degraded by economic actors.

Several wetlands in Mpigi are encroached on by greedy business actors mainly the Chinese who have constructed industries and practice rice farming.

The leading Environmentalist organisations: Urgent Climate Action Africa (UCAA) and Fridays For Future Uganda (FFFU) spearhead the campaign by bringing together CBOs in Mpigi to save Wetlands.

According to the Executive Director of UCAA, Mr Mugonza Andrew also known as Climate Andrew, said that the campaign is looking at holding economic actors accountable to protect wetlands in Mpigi.

“Ssemajjimbi wetland in Kiringente has been degraded by a Chinese industry, by dumping industrial waste, blocking the river banks of River Ssemajjimbi among other illegal activities,” says Mr Mugonza.

At the launch of the campaign, senior environmental activist Mugerwa Timothy asked CBO members in Mpigi to protect their wetlands for future generations.

“There is an urgent need to empower local communities to develop the capacity to protect engaged natural resources from human activities. This campaign by community-based organizations to hold economic actors accountable is a welcome move. Wetlands and forests have been in the past preserved by locals,” said Mr Mugerwa.

The district woman representative in parliament Hon Teddy Nambooze promised her support to CBOs in the fight to save Wetlands; “This is a great move to see concerned citizens leading the struggle to save Wetlands in the district. It will make our work easy”.

MP Nambooze asked CBOs to implement what they decided to do immediately after the launch.