Ugandans asked to balance growth and natural resources protection

Stephen

Mugabi has urged Ugandans to protect the available natural resources if the

country is to attain Vision 2040. Mugabi is the commissioner environment sector

services in the Ministry of Water and Environment.

Mugabi made

the remarks while officiating at the Green Growth meeting convened by the

Environment CSO Network on Thursday.

He said

that the failure to protect primary environment like water bodies, forests,

swamps and secondary environment like roads, dams, schools, hospitals among

others will cause damage to the existing environment which in the long run will

be hard and expensive to repair.

The deputy

executive director, EMLI-Bwaise facility, Robert Bakika said Ugandans need to

be aware of the dangers of destroying the environment.

He did

applaud Ugandans who have taken up recycling waste into useful products.

Uganda’s natural resources are fast being depleted by man with 15.6% hectares of forest in 1994 reduced to 8.4% in 2016. Annual loss of forestry is estimated at 12000 hectares.

Vision 2030 is a government plan to turn around the fortunes of 5 million productive Ugandans to ensure they earn 20 million shillings annually.