Tree planting to curb silting on L. Bunyonyi
Boatmen on Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale. The lake supports Kisizi mini-hydro power dam in Rukungiri District.
Photo by Robert Muhereza
What you need to know:
The plan is also expected to improve food security and income generating activities.
Two organisations have launched a Shs2.6 billion project to control soil erosion and silting on Lake Bunyonyi and wetlands in Kabale District.
The five-year project is being implemented by Hort-Consult, a local NGO in partnership with Gorta, an Irish-based organisation.
The director of Hort-Consult, Mr Alex Ariho, yesterday said the plan would also promote agro-forestry to improve food security, income and ecosystem management.
He said the intervention followed a survey that indicated soil erosion on the hills adjacent to the target biodiversity hot-spots was causing silting.
“We want to control soil erosion on the highlands adjacent to Lake Bunyonyi and Rushebeya-Kanyabaha Wetland in Rukiga County because that is the water source for the Kisizi mini-hydro power dam in the neighbouring Rukungiri District,” Mr Ariho said.
He added: “We are planting trees with medicinal values, digging trenches and promoting terrace bands to control soil erosion.”
The organisation’s regional projects manager Mr Alfred Ahimbisibwe, said they have already partnered with at least 1,200 households in sub-counties surrounding the lake and the Rushebeya-Kanyabaha wetland.
“We are training residents on how to make handcrafts and several decorations from dry banana fibers,” Mr Ahimbisibwe said.
Mr Ariho said they have received support from the National Agriculture Research Organisation, Makerere University, ASERECA-Entebbe, local government and several farmer groups.
