Uganda gets Shs50b to boost environment

State minister for water and environment, Mary Gorreti Kitutu. COURTESY PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • Ms Kitutu noted that the UK government got interested in being part of the change in the environment rules in Uganda.
  • Mr Joseph Masembe, the chief executive officer of the Uganda's Little Hands Go Green while addressing the 500 children from different schools said there is urgent need for the country to implement stringent restrictions on environment.

The United Kingdom (UK) government has donated $15m (about Shs50b) to the government of Uganda to help in the implementation of the new environment Act.
The revelation was made by state minister for water and environment, Mary Gorreti Kitutu, on Monday during the international children’s climate day conference at the school of the deaf in Ntinda.

Ms Kitutu noted that the UK government got interested in being part of the change in the environment rules in Uganda.
“The money will be used for paying the workers and the general implementation of the law including field work operations. Remember our new act will bite seriously, if anyone is caught against the law, we shall try them there and then and order them to pay the necessary fines,” Ms Kitutu said.

The Ministry of Environment has since finalised the review of the Environment act 1995. At the moment, the proposed amendment of the new draft is before parliament for approval.

Ms Katutu said the new act will have stringent regulations to enable Ugandans conserve the environment.
“The new law will bite harder and it’s also meant to address issues that have been lacking in the old act, issues like the oil and plastic ban. It will have higher penalties to the perpetuators and thanks to the UK government,” she said.

Mr Joseph Masembe, the chief executive officer of the Uganda's Little Hands Go Green while addressing the 500 children from different schools said there is urgent need for the country to implement stringent restrictions on environment.
“We need to groom the young generation so that they can grow up knowing that growing a tree is a very important practice. We have seen many bans which are for the good of our environment including the ban on the plastic bags coming up, but they do not last for a fortnight. It is high time the state thought about reviving the pearl of Africa,” Mr Masembe said.