Uganda Water and Environment Week kicks off as Innovative Tech. & climate change discussions dominate.
Drake Nyamugabwa
The Ministry of Water and Environment with its partners kicked off the 7th edition of the Uganda Water & Environment Week running from Monday 18th to 22nd March 2024, following the first one held in 2018, bringing together all key stakeholders to showcase the linkages between their respective mandates.
The Water Week’s main goal is to rethink existing approaches and solutions to addressing water, environment, and climate change challenges in Uganda building on outcomes and recommendations of the various global, regional, and national water, environment, and climate change-related events.
Held at ministry headquarters in Luzira this Year’s week is themed: “Rethinking collective action and innovative solutions to water, environment and climate change crisis in Uganda”
The chief guest, Chief Justice of Uganda HL Alfonso Winnie-Dolo represented by Hon. Justice Richard Butera said that the Judiciary of Uganda is going to set up the environmental court to fight the environmental rights to enhance better livelihood for all Ugandans.
He noted that discussions in the judiciary are in place to implement the environment court so that the environment gets the justice it badly wants as he emphasized that Water resources are key in the implementation of the Parish Development Model.
“Every Ugandan has a right to a Clean and Healthy Environment,” he said
Hon. Sam Cheptoris
Minister of Water and Environment Hon. Sam Cheptoris assured that the ministry has introduced a framework to address climate change mitigation & adaptation efforts through developing new regulations and that he is committed to implementing outcomes of the water week by engaging with all participants to further the ministry’s goal.
“Climate change remains a challenge, due to extreme weather patterns. The gov't has introduced a framework to address mitigation & adaptation efforts. And in the process of developing regulations to enact the Climate Change Act of 2021,” he said
The Managing Director of National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) Eng. Silver Mugisha while giving a keynote address at the Opening Ceremony of the Uganda Water and Environment Week at the Ministry Headquarters in Luzira said that NWSC has developed innovative technologies that is enhancing water supplies to different communities in Uganda both locally made and imported.
He said that there is a need to integrate imported technologies so that we can develop them in Uganda.
“We have scaled p innovations at the agency. We cherish technology, we have invented technologies like prepaid meters. We had to develop it from prototype to industrial. There is a way we can do it” he said
The MD also highlighted the need to involve everyone in addressing climate change. He said that in order to save money an serve the communities sustainably, there is a need to work closely with sister organisation in the community through frameworks develope by NWSC while emphasising the need for strong support from the people.
"At your age, you can't be lamenting about the heat wave and climate change we're experiencing. Children can lament, but you should do something to address this crisis" he said.
Speaking at the opening ceremony Susan Namondo Ngongi from the UN Family said that “Environmental degradation costs are so high, that we need to rethink how we do development to ensure that the impact to the environment is taken into consideration”
She said that more resources are needed to ensure that Uganda meets its national commitments towards proper Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) for everyone.
Kate K. Kiiza from DFCU Bank said that "At DFCU Bank, our purpose is to transform Lives and Businesses. We offer special financing for projects tackling Uganda's water, environment, and climate challenges. These projects receive unique attention beyond our standard financing products." She said
She added that there is a need to recognize their roles in driving collective action and innovative solutions for Uganda's water scarcity, environmental degradation, and climate change and track the role’s impact for effective action.
Chief guest Hon. Justice Richard Buteera together with Hon. Sam Cheptoris Minister for Water and Environment, Hon Beatrice Anyway Minister of State for Environment and the P.S Ministry of Water and Environment visited exhibition stalls with different innovations in the sector.
Water according to the ministry of water and environment is vital for; quality of life, Productivity of the population, Tourism & Recreation, Climate regulation, Environmental Conservation, Fisheries & livestock, Industry, Hydro-Power, Oil & gas (Mining), Baptism & many others.
