Locals adopt tree planting to fight disasters

MANAFWA. A move by a group of residents to conserve the slopes of Mt Elgon in Bugisu Sub-region has started paying off after several years of grappling with disastrous landslides and floods.
The residents under their umbrella association Bubulo Environmental Conservation and Management Association’ (BECOMAP) have for the past three years been engaging in conservation activities to restore the degraded ecosystem in the landslide prone districts of Manafwa and neighbouring Namisindwa by planting trees on the hills that have been left bare due to massive deforestation.

They have also planted bamboo trees and elephant grass on the banks of River Manafwa.
Mr Musa Mandu, the chairperson of the association, said: “We realised nothing will work best to prevent such disasters in this region better than embracing conservation through community- based approaches.”
He said they are also operating nursery beds and practising fish farming and bee keeping as source of their income.

Mr Mandu said they have also trained locals in several sub-counties in districts of Manafwa and Namisindwa to engage in good farming practices such as contour ploughing and digging terraces on hilly areas.
He said this has improved livehoods, boosted catchment and reduced soil erosion, adding that they have plans to extend their project to Bududa by end of this year.
Mr Mandu said in the past, whenever it rained, River Manafwa would cause havoc and wash away their crops, livestock, bridges and houses.
“We decided to plant different types of trees with strong roots along the river to curb flooding, which had become a menace in this area,” he said.

Ms Susan Nakhayali, a member of the association, said previously, in Namutebi, the land was bare especially on the steep slopes but now it is being restored.
The association, which has more than 150 members, was formed to promote environment conservation as solution to disasters. It has its headquarters in Namutebi Town Council in Manafwa District.
The Mt Elgon area has registered spates of deadly landslides last year only between May and October more than 67 landslides were recorded.
Mr Micheal Milisho, a member, said although they are doing voluntary work, they are happy that they are helping to save humanity from disasters.

“We are working closely with district leadership to promote the conservation to mitigate the disasters and prevent the loss of lives of our people. That is our hope, which keeps us moving,” he says, adding that government and non-government organisations should supply them with more tree seedlings.
In Bubuyela Village in Buyinza Town Council, residents have adopted the method of making terraces using rocks to control speed.
The State minister for Environment, Ms Mary Gorreti Kitutu, said: “This is a true spirit of trying to address ecosystem degradation, which is a major drive of disasters such as landsides in Bugisu region.”

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Water and Environment, Mr Alfred Okidi Okot, said during the retreat for senior management of his ministry in Mbale Town at the weekend, that the government is willing and committed to supporting residents who have embraced environmental smart solutions to fight climate change.
The deputy head of civil service, Ms Deborah Katuramu, said it is good that residents have started owning up responsibilities but urged the civil servants to play their part in service delivery.

Landslides

Last year only between May and October more than 67 landslides were recorded at Mt Elgon area.
However, in most of the landslides, there was no human deaths recorded apart from the Bukalasi mudslide in Bududa District, which left more than 50 people dead after River Tsume burst its banks due to heavy rain.
In March 2010, more than 150 people were killed and 10,000 displaced in Nametsi, Bududa District by landslides.

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