BY JOACKIM KULE
Leaders in Kasese have observed need for the Ministry of Water and Environment to come up with long term measures aimed at preventing the effects of climate change that have negatively affected the socio- economic development of the district.
Since May 2013, Kasese district has continuously been experiencing disasters including prolonged dry spells, landslides and floods. The floods emanate from the major rivers in the area especially when they burst their banks during the rainy seasons.
The major known for causing catastrophes during the rainy seasons include Nyamughasana, Mubuku, Lhubiriha and Nyamwamba whose catchment covers an area of equivalent to 257 km2 totaling to 7% of the total land in the whole district.
The Nyamwamba Water Catchment area has a sub catchment that covers 12 local lower governments including Bulembia, Nyamwamba Kilembe, Nyakabingo, Mbunga, Rukoki, Karusandara, Kyarumba, Bugoye, Muhokya and Mahango.
While addressing his fellow leaders from Karamoja region on Wednesday morning during a benchmarking session at the Central Division Council Hall in Kasese Municipality, Mr. Eliphazi Muhindi Bukombi, who is the Kasese District Chairperson, revealed that the socio – economic development of the people and the infrastructure put up by government has continuously been affected by the effects of climate change
According to him, among other proposals that the district leadership has presented line ministry, is the need for the community members to be economically empowered so that they stop tempering with the environment while seeking for survival.
Muhindi, however, appealed to the local population to own all projects that government has been able to establish along the banks of major rivers across the district for their sustainability.
Mr. Richard Bomera, the Bulembia Division Chairperson, who is also the Chairperson for Nyamwamba Water Catchment Area, stressed that the much as government and development partners have funded tree and bamboo planting, there was still need for Kasese to be given a special consideration in order to curtail the floods from happening further so that people settle on their pieces of land.
Mr. Mustafa Kikusa, the Kasese District Principal Assistant Secretary attached to the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, who chaired the meeting, told the gathering that as leaders, they were still skeptical whether the rains for September, October, November and December would come along with floods that displace people and influence the formation of camps.
Dr. Emmanuel Brian Guma, the Team Leader for the Albertine Water Management Zone that oversees Nyamwamba Water Catchment Area, on behalf of the Ministry of Water and Environment said they were committed to stabilizing the banks of some stubborn rivers through planting bamboo trees and carrying out soil and water conservation measures on the bare hills.
ENDS