Lira | Residents of Lira City have been encouraged to plant trees and promote activities that protect and conserve forest ecosystems.
The Assistant Resident City Commissioner (ARCC) of Lira, Bonny Otucu, made this call on Friday, June 28, at St. Paul in Ngetta, Lira City East Division, during the Forest Day celebration.
Gloford Uganda organised the event. This year’s theme, “Forest and Innovation,” emphasises the critical role that forests play in sustaining our planet’s biodiversity, climate, and the well-being of communities around the world.
The celebration was attended by the communities of Ngetta and Ayago, where Gloford Uganda is implementing the HER Voice project.
The project’s goal is to help protect and regenerate Okole swamp in Lira City East Division by 2025.
Otucu praised Gloford Uganda’s Executive Director, Dr. Morris Chris Ongom, for focusing on climate change in an effort to save our environment.
“Forests play a crucial part in sustaining life on our planet,” he said, adding, “Over 1.6 billion people depend on forests for food or fuel and also some 70 million people worldwide including many indigenous communities call forests home.”
He stated clearly that forests provide us with oxygen, shelter, jobs, and food, among other things.
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ARCC Otucu praised the project’s efforts, such as the establishment of Female Environmental Action Groups (FEAGS) in Ngetta and Ayago.
These structures advocate for activities that promote, protect, and conserve the environment.
“These groups are doing the needful because they inform the relevant authorities in case there is any activity which doesn’t conserve the environment,” said Otucu.
FEAGS identified a number of activities carried out by residents of Lira City and other districts in Okole swamp that do not conserve nature.
Among the activities mentioned are the disposal of waste (domestic, industrial, and medical waste), alcohol molasses, defecating in the swamp, and dumping dead dogs, among others.
During the celebration, an action plan was developed collaboratively, and the offices of the City Clerk and City Health Inspector acknowledged the challenges and assured the community that they will work together to protect our environment.
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A meeting was held last month at the same location, attended by molasses distributors, distillers, the City Health Inspector, and the Lira ARCC.
In an effort to maintain environmental health, the community dealing in molasses unanimously agreed to relocate to a gazetted location and cease distilling alcohol in the community by August 13, 2024, among other resolutions.
As part of the City’s Forest Day celebration, trees were planted at St. Paul Primary School.
Furthermore, Otucu used the celebration to educate the community about several government programmes, including PDM, Emyooga, and GROW, among others.
He did, however, advise the community to always seek accurate information about the programmes so that bad elements do not extort money from them.
He urged the community to report those who masquerade and ask for money in order to benefit from any government programme.
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