By Andrew Aijuka and Delicate Sive
The 7th Uganda Water Week convened at the Ministry of Water and Environment, focusing on “Rethinking collective action and innovative solutions to the water, environment, and climate change crisis in Uganda.” The event aimed to explore nature-based solutions to these challenges, bringing together stakeholders from various sectors, including the private sector, ministry departments, media, and international researchers specializing in water-related fields.
As attendees traversed the dusty bumpy roads from Bugolobi to the Ministry headquarters in Luzira, Kampala-Uganda, they endured the scorching sun and oppressive humidity, with temperatures reaching 31 degrees Celsius. This weather served as a stark reminder of the detrimental effects of climate change and poor water resource management, highlighting the importance of clean drinking water, a precious commodity sought after by all.
“One of the significant challenges we face in ensuring the availability of clean and safe water is pollution.” Dr. Florence Grace Adongo, the executive director of the Nile Basin Initiative, shared insights during a panel discussion on “Sustainable Access and Utilization of Water and Environmental Resources for Economic Development.”
She emphasized the critical importance of ensuring water is suitable for its intended use, especially considering the increasing population and pollution, which significantly contribute to the depletion of water resources.
Dr. Florence stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to combat water scarcity, focusing on sustainable utilisation and management of available water resources. “In the national development plan, water should be at the forefront. Quality, quantity and access are vital in water classification to accurately identify water availability.” she reiterated.
Dr. Isaac Mutenyo, the Program Coordinator of the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development Program (USMID) in the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, highlighted the rapid urban population growth rate of around 6%. He stressed the urgent need for comprehensive planning to manage this growth and enhance resilience in urban areas. Dr. Mutenyo emphasized that population growth is a critical factor that requires careful consideration in urban development strategies.
In an earlier session focusing on “Rethinking collective action and innovative solutions to the environment and climate crisis in Uganda,” Rt. Rev. Associate Prof. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa, the Bishop of Ankole Anglican Diocese and Chancellor of Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara, emphasized the critical issue of over 2 billion people lacking access to safe drinking water and sanitation. He stressed the importance of fostering collaboration among different stakeholders and the local community to effectively tackle the challenges. Additionally, he underscored the significance of implementing strong policies and strategies to address the issue. He also urged the government to take decisive action to hold polluters accountable, including imposing a ban on plastic bottles, bags, and charcoal production.
The importance of involving the minority including children was highlighted as 10-year-old, Climate Champion, Ms. Grace Stuart Ninsiima was included in panel discussions. “Children are least responsible for the climate change crisis yet we are most affected. We feel the effects that give us one of the reasons why we need to protect nature.” This was coupled with the fact that the recent spikes in temperatures had caused the closure of schools in South Sudan thus affecting their academics.
Dr. Bernard Amadei who holds the esteemed position of professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder and is recognized as the founding president of Engineers Without Borders and the co-founder of the Engineers Without Borders-International Network in his submission, underscored the vital importance of water within the broader context of water, energy, land, and food.
Furthermore, Dr. Amadei stressed the importance of considering water availability within the context of the entire water cycle. He highlighted the potential for using treated wastewater in agricultural applications. Additionally, he emphasized the interconnectedness of water, energy, and food (WEF) and its role in advancing Sustainable Development Goals.
While submitting measures to ensure sustainable access and utilisation of water, Dr. Florence Grace Adongo urged the government to prioritise water. “In the national development plan, water should be at the forefront, with a focus on quality, quantity, and access to accurately identify water availability,” she stated. She also stressed the need for increased research, partnerships, and awareness at the local level to ensure that every member of the community takes responsibility for protecting available water resources.
This sentiment was echoed by Jane Nabunnya Mulumba, the Country Director, IRC Water and Sanitation Uganda who highlighted the importance of utilising data collected about water, the environment and climate change. She posited that research data and findings should get into spaces that will create more impact. This includes all stakeholders such as the media, local communities, policymakers and decision-makers. Otherwise, they remain in research documents yet a lot of resources are invested to generate them.
Throughout the week, it was evident during the panel discussions that the majority of the panellists saw the need to involve all stakeholders and encourage collaboration among them to achieve sustainability. As Ann Nkutu, Rotary District Governor-elect stated “Educating the community is critical, more needs to be done to ensure the people understand the effects of climate change so people at the forefront can understand this.”
We need to love the environment enough to implement the policies in place. Heat waves have killed so many people globally and this can happen in Uganda. Societal mindset change and awareness before the implementation of programs are key ingredients to success.
This story was produced by InfoNile
