By Kimbowa Richard, Programme Manager

Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development | EA SusWatch Network | INFORSE-East Africa

P.O. Box 27551 Kampala | Tel: +256 414 269461 | Email: ugandacoalition@infocom.co.ug
Website: www.ugandacoalition.or.ug | Twitter: @ugandacoalition
Eastern Africa Greens Federation

Outline

1. Background to the EPU and EAGF

2. Objective of the session

3. Opportunities and Constraints to sustainable development in Uganda

4. Group Discussion: What can we do?

 EAGF

• Mission of EAGF: to bring about all necessary political

and socio-economic changes in the country in the
areas of democracy, rule of law, constitutional
governance, fair distribution of national resources, the
protection of environment, and generally striving for
national sustainable political and social economic
Objective:
development that is inclusive, free and fair.
To promote and popularize the
• EPU has a declared motto: “Peaceful Co-existence for
green ideology with emphasis on
Sustainable Development”
the six Green principles:
• EPU seeks to establish an effective nation-wide
1. Ecological Wisdom
structure capable of winning presidential,
2. Social Justice
parliamentary and local council elections in 2021
3. Participatory Democracy
4. Nonviolence
• Green ideology makes EPU different from others
5. Sustainability
6. Respect for Diversity
Eastern Africa Greens Federation

Objective of the session

To flag out national level environment and natural resource issues for
political engagement, further reflection and public discussion
Eastern Africa Greens Federation

Situating Green issues in East African Community: Opportunities and Constraints: What
are the commitments?

‒ Uganda is a signatory to several Multilateral Environmental

Agreements to address a range of global challenges - loss of
biological diversity, adverse impacts of Climate Change, depletion of
the ozone layer, hazardous waste, organic pollutants, marine
pollution, and trade in endangered species, destruction of wetlands,
etc.

‒ Signed and ratified several International Conventions and Treaties

including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); the
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB); the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora,
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
especially as Waterfowl Habitat, and the United Nations Convention
on Combating Desertification (UNCCD), Minamata Convention
among others.
Opportunities and Constraints to sustainable development in Uganda

Uganda is naturally endowed with natural resources

and climate, human influence has increased impacts
on forest and wetland cover, water resources, climate
change and weather patterns.

Photo: Venture Uganda

Development challenges in a globalised world are
pushing Uganda to embrace technological pathways
and lifestyles in different sectors that have
repercussions for the present and future generations
and could determine progress in realising Agenda
2030 / Sustainable Development Goals.

Source: researchgate.net
Climate Emergency

• Increasing number of climate change ‘hotspots’ - in form of landslides and floods that
increasingly claim lives and loss of property in Bududa, Bulambuli, Bundibugyo among
others; extended dry spells in Nakasongola; Kampala suffering badly this year with
death as people get caught up in flash flooding, roads are cut off and widespread
damage due to falling perimeter fences and bill boards due to heavy rains.

• The United Nations says we could have just 11 years left to limit a climate change
catastrophe.

• Beyond reducing carbon emissions on a local scale, but also raising awareness about
climate change and trying to convince Legislators and Planners that changes can be
made.

• Important: maximum protection of human and non-human life = reversing global

warming and creating a global cooling (coping adaptive, resilience building strategies
ASAP
More: https://climateemergencydeclaration.org/
Forest give aways and wetlands encroachment : The same dam in Gulu Oitino dam (Northern
Uganda), from where the National Water & Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) pumps water dried
in February 2016, and communities had to stay without water for some weeks…. …..Now an
‘Investor’ wants it!

Source: The New Vision (Uganda)

Misuse of agrochemicals in Uganda
• Multiple risks assoc. with misuse of agrochemicals,
including fertility & respiratory problems, affect
development of the foetus during pregnancy and
development of diseases such as cancer.

• Many fresh foods on the market incl. tomatoes,

water melons, cucumber, passion fruits, cabbage, Source: Whisper Eye

and onions sold with freshly applied chemicals

• Recent study (UNACOH) in 18 districts of Uganda,

found tomatoes contaminated with the harmful
pesticide residues gets worse at the end of June as
the first cropping season March – June planting
season comes to an end.

• Worrying trend of community water source

pollution with harmful pesticide residues that is Source:sciencemag.org

going on unchecked.
 Enforce ban on plastic bags (Kaveera) in Uganda

• Kaveera is a nuisance to the

environment as it is not
biodegradable

• Global wave to ban single use

plastics

• Uganda remains an ‘island’ where

her neighbours (Kenya, Rwanda and
Tanzania are implementing a ban on
plastic bags
Source: WWF _ AUstralia
Access to off-grid energy alternatives and fuel wood efficient devices
• Majority of Ugandan households depend on
biomass as fuel source for primary energy
demand.

• Traditional biomass = fuel wood, charcoal,

tree leaves, animal dung and agricultural
residues. This is unclean and inefficient with
negative health and environmental Source: str8talkmagazine.com

consequences…

• .. with majority cooking indoors with no

chimneys and any ventilation exposes
women and children to harmful pollutants
which can be toxic.

Source: ees.kuleuven.be
Group work: 3 groups

1. Apart from the 5 issues above, what other issues / challenges are
important to focus on ?

2. What can be done to address these issues / challenges?