Gerald Tenywa
18 November 2007
Kampala — THE Vice-President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, has assured environmental activists and donors that Mabira Forest Reserve will not be degazetted for sugarcane growing.
"We are a democratic country and had to listen to the people."
Bukenya was addressing journalists at the Nile Resort in Jinja on Saturday.
"You can develop without disrupting ecology. It is possible to plant trees to replace those that have been cut down."
He cited the example of the ground on which the British Parliament stands, which he said was previously a swamp.
"What we could look at is the entire ecological system and consider what would happen to the rest of the ecological system if some trees are cut down."
The Vice-President had earlier presided over the drafting of recommendations (The Jinja Declaration) that will be debated during the Commonwealth summit that starts in Kampala on Friday.
The recommendations will also form part of the discussions at the UN meeting on climate change in Bali, Indonesia, next month.
Bukenya said climate change in Uganda was manifested in the adverse weather and climate conditions "Between 1991 and 2,000, Uganda experienced seven droughts, compared to about seven during the period 1900 to 1970," he said.
"The last years have also witnessed an increase in intensity and frequency of heavy rains, floods and landslides in the highland areas as well as outbreaks of diseases."
Bukenya called for action against climate change.
"The most developed countries will be required to do more. This is not only because they contribute and continue to contribute to most of the causes and sustenance of climate change, but also because the UN framework on climate change emphasises differentiated responsibilities to address climate change effectively."
Bukenya also launched last year's the National State of Environment Report and the fourth Global Environment Outlook report.
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