Bukenya says will crush 'enemies' of environment

Former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya has broken silence ever since he was appointed as a senior presidential advisor on environment and sanitation by President Museveni.

Bukenya vowed to fight against those involved in encroaching on wetlands, climate change and environmental degradation.

“When I was speaking to President Museveni before he appointed me, he challenged me with a question on how we can put measures to protect our environment and the ecosystem," Bukenya, who addressing the media at Katomi Resort Beach in Entebbe on Monday, March 4, said.

"Today, the ongoing Holocene extinction is caused primarily by human impact on the environment and the greatest biodiversity loss so far had been due to habitat degradation and fragmentation that results in to failure of our ecosystems.”

While responding to the social media critics querying his competence on environment and sanitation, Bukenya recalled his moments in parliament representing Busiro North in 2006 when he led fellow legislators in a fight against faulty Wakiso district over 738 hectare Nonve Central Forest Reserve.

Nonve Central Forest Reserve is a 738 hectare forest reserve located in Kakiri Town Council, Wakiso District

He also told Nile Post he is worried that Lake Victoria is being destroyed by tycoons who illegally occupy and pour soil into the lake causing silting and spoiling the breeding places of aquatic life.

“We shall fight off all those who destroy the environment together, with you the journalists. I will camp anywhere I hear that there’s destruction of any natural resource. I am not here for jokes,” Bukenya added.

He also said he will advocate for the health system of screening and certifying people who serve food to ensure food hygiene.

The new Senior Presidential advisor is set to meet the National Forestry Authority, and other environmental agencies to discuss issues on how to preserve the environment.