Nancy Mugimba the ESAFF National Coordinator Awarding Wanyenya Esther from Vision High School Mbale |
Environment News Uganda
Friday 13 October 2023
ESAFF – Uganda awarded pupils from Kasese and Mbale schools that emerged winners of the 1 st Edition of the Schools Agroecology Poem
Saturday 23 September 2023
Venture more in Agroceological Farming practices for the good of public Health and Environment, Local farmers haven Advised.
BY SYLIVIA NAMUWANGA
Ugandan Farmers have been told to resort to Agroecological farming practices such as the use of organically farming inputs such as locally produced fertilizers , pesticides as way to boost organically produced Agricultural products which are more healthier and highly demanded both on local and International markets .
Farming groups especially the Small holder farmers say the system is environmentally friendly and less costly compare to the Conventional Ones where a lot of inorganic farming inputs are highly used.
To ensure that farmers embrace the production systems many interventions have been initiated by farming associations such as the Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale farmers Forum (ESAFF) and other farmers groups especially those that units Small Scale farmers across the Country. For the last four years the forums have been organizing. The Annually National Organic Week since 2019.
Farmers practicing Agroecology , the farming practice save the Environment |
It’s on this Back ground that yet again, ESAFF
Uganda has organized the 5th National Organic Week (NOW) 2023 which will aim at
informing the wider public about the importance of organic farming and
consumption of organically produced foods as well as encouraging uptake of
organic farming practices among small scale farmers This year’s theme will be
focusing on the promoting of Agroecological farming techniques and healthy
foods.
“In the heart of every farmer, the National Organic Week leaves a lasting imprint. It's a time when we reflect on the true essence of our craft, nurturing the land, and tending to the roots of sustainability. This week reminds us that the choices we make today, in support of organic farming, will bear fruit for generations to come. It's not just a celebration; it's a commitment to our planet's health and the legacy we leave behind in conserving our environment.”- Mr. Hakim Baliraine, National Chairperson, ESAFF Uganda added.
Tuesday 8 August 2023
Strengthen Land Area Committees to Enable Execute their Duties, Local Leaders tells Government.
BY SYLIVIA NAMUWANGA
Land Actors at the
lover Local Government Level have asked Government to Strengthening land
governance institutions in the Country which they say it may play vital role in
mitigating Land Conflicts across the Country.
To achieve that the
government should invest in building strong and transparent land governance
institutions. This includes providing adequate resources, training, and
capacity-building for the responsible agencies, such as the Land Registry, Land
Management Units, and Area Land Committees (ALCs).
This was raised by Lower
Governments Leaders from West Nile region during an Induction Workshop that was
organized by Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmer Forum {ESAFF}
Uganda in partnership with the Ministry of Land Housing and Urban Development
for the Area Land Committee members of Warr and Logiri sub-counties in Zombo
and Arua respectively on land administration and management that was held in
Nebbi Town recently.
Speaking during the induction workshop, the Warr sub county
Local Council III chairperson there experiencing a lot of Land Conflicts in his
Sub county because the people who are supposed to offer technical guidelines
especially when it comes to the Lands that were leased many years ag are have
not been supported by the Government to execute their duties.
Local Government Leaders attending the Training in Nebbi Town |
Land is a key resource that is essential to the development
of the economy, society, and culture of small-scale farmers and land actors.
Land is very important in the West Nile sub-region for its potential for
agriculture as well as for the livelihoods and identities of its residents.
However, land conflicts in the farming communities of the West
Nile sub-region have been persistent and complex posing significant challenges
to sustainable development and community harmony. These conflicts arise from
various factors, including historical, social, economic, and political
dynamics, and often result in disputes over land ownership, boundaries, and
usage rights.
Speaking at the same
Induction Some ALC noted that the farming communities are not aware of the Land
Rights Laws and this has exposed them to Land Conflicts with Investors in the region.
“For us we didn’t know anything about the charges on the land
inspection during the registration of land for acquiring certificates of land
ownership but now we are aware of it and we are going to effectively collect
it” Nen Charles Oyikuru, ALC Chairperson Warr Sub-county.
It's on this ground that we applaud the Civil Societies and
the Ministry of Lands that have empowered us with some skills on Land Issues.
Speaking on behalf of
the Civil Society during the Training, Ronald Bagaga the Research and Policy Officer
at ESAFF Uganda said Government Should Look for resources to ensure that these technical
people at the Lower Government Levels are empowered.
“As farming Organization, we believe in Equity; Government
should ensure that Local Communities are empowered with all the information
relating to Land governance and Management and this will curtail Land Conflicts
related issues that are becoming rampant in the country,” said Ronald Bagaga.
Denis Obbo, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban
Development Spokesperson, said it’s not
their mandate to finance the ALCs because that responsibility is delegated to
the Ministry of Local Governments.
According to the Land Act, 1998, the Area land committees are
supposed to assist the board in an advisory capacity on matters relating to
land, including ascertaining rights on the land in the Country.
Monday 27 February 2023
Budibugyo District Schools and Town Council gets Sanitation Facilities
BY Environment News Writer
The Ministry of Water and Environment Officials led by the
Assistant Commissioner Sewerage Services Division; Engineer. Dr. Felix Twinomucunguzi
handed over completed sanitation facilities to schools and Bundibugyo Town
Council.
The hand over was part of the technical inspection and supervision of Bundibugyo Water Supply and Sanitation Project under which a number of Two 5-Stance lined VIP institutional toilets and One Public Water borne toilet were constructed and handed over to Bundibugyo Demonstration School, Bumadu Primary School and Bundibugyo Town Council respectively
Bundibugyo Water Supply and Sanitation Project scope of works included
1. Construction of a water office
2. Construction of 4 No. 5 stance lined VIP Institutional
toilets
3. Reservoir tank (1000cubic meters)
4. Treatment plant
5. 30 public stand posts and 1000 promotional yard tap
connections
6. Laying of a treated water gravity transmission mains
7. Laying of distribution and intensification pipes.
8. 1 Public Water borne toilet
9. Construction of a river intake and raw water gravity
mains.
The construction works are being undertaken by Vidas
Engineering services Co.LTD is under the supervision of SARI Consulting Ltd and
the progress is currently at 80%.
The Bundibugyo water system is being implemented by the
Ministry of Water and Environment through the Strategic Towns Water Supply and
Sanitation Project (STWSSP) under Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Department. The Project is being financed by
the African Development Bank secured by the Government of Uganda.
Bundibugyo Town Piped Water Supply and Sanitation System
will serve a minimum of 118 villages. 26 villages in Bubukwanga sub county, 17
in Bukonzo sub county and 32 in Bundibugyo Town Council among others.
Wednesday 26 October 2022
Farmers asks Uganda to Amend the Plant Variety Protection Act to suit their interests.
By Samuel Nabwiiso
Small Scale Farmers in Uganda under their umbrella’s movement the Eastern and Southern Africa Small-scale Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF) - Uganda Chapter are calling upon Government to review some of the Agricultural Regulations that are not friendly with the rights of Small-Scale farmers.
The regulation that farmers want
to be amended is the plant Variety and Protection Act which farmers say it only
favour plant bleeders and Seed Companies and this has deprived their rights as
Small Scale farmers who are the majority producers of foundation seeds in the
Country.
farmers argue that the current
Law does not allow them to register their indigenous Seeds varieties with the
Ministry of Agriculture because majority cannot meet the Conditions as their
prescribed in the Law.
"As Ugandan farmers we joined the rest of the World to commemorate the
World Food Day/Week on the 16th/October 2022,
But Small scale farmers observed with concern that the National seed
regulations i.e. the Plant Variety Protection Act among others regulations in
the Country are generally focusing only on the so-called private sector seed
companies of which their capacity to meet the National seeds demand is still lower formal sector
only produces 20% of the Nation’s seed's
on an annual basis. This legal framework does not provide policy support for
the production and distribution Of Agricultural inputs by small-scale farmers
,yet the National Seed Policy (2018) recognizes that the informal seed system
is strategic in conserving the biodiversity and meets 80 percent of the
Agricultural inputs requirements in Uganda" Said Ronald Bagaga the Head of
Policy and Research at ESAFF-Uganda in
an Exclusive Interview with the Environment News Uganda.
Hakim Baliraine the Chairperson of ESAFF -Uganda explaining to the prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja about their call on Regulation amendments |
He said that without protecting Small Scale farmer's to own their Indigenous seeds rights this may expose the Country to food Insecurity because many local farmers cannot afford to buy seeds produced by the private Sector and this may hinder the Country not to achieve this year's World food Day theme which was celebrated under the theme ‘Leave NO ONE behind.”
In 2014, Uganda passed the Plant
Variety Protection Act ("the Act") with the aim of providing for the
promotion of development of new plant varieties and their protection as a means
of enhancing breeder's innovations and rewards through granting plant breeders’
rights.
Why Government is not recognizing
seeds produced by Small Scale Farmer’s? According to the policy officer, Government
argues that that these traditional and unimproved farming Agricultural farming
inputs varieties produced by the Small-Scale farmers may not meet the standard
regulations as their prescribed in the Law because of their genetic and
phenotypic diversity characteristics that can make them more resilient to local
Agro-ecological conditions.
To ensure that Government
recognizes indigenous Seed’s, Bagaga said that ESAFF-Uganda, a farming Movement
of Small-Scale farmers they have Launched campaign which aimed at advocating
for the review of the Plant Variety protection ACT by Government.
"Our request is that
Government should repeal some of the regulations that do not favour Small Scale
farmers to Own farming inputs farming rights" He requested.
ESAFF - Uganda a farmer led based
organization is supporting over 30000 Small Scale farmers in Uganda and it
operates in over 50 Districts across the Country.
When asked to comment on the
recent Kenya's decision to lift the ban on the Cultivation and Importations of genetically
modified organism Commonly known as GMO,Bagaga said its high time for Uganda to
pass the Biotechnology Bill this will protect
Small Scale Farmer's in Uganda
and the Country at large from the negative Consequence's that may arise after
the Consumption of GMO products since
Kenya shares Border with Uganda.
"This year’s world Food was Celebrated at a time when one of the
East African Community Member state,
Kenya rifting the ban on the cultivation of GMO crops and its importation. As
Ugandan farmers,
Kenya whom Uganda share a common
boarder and GMO confined field trials on 20 crops of rice, corn, banana,
cotton, soybean, potato and sweet potato among others, the decision may not be
good to Small Scale farmers in the region because of its economic
complications to the ordinary farmers in the East African Community" Bagaga the
Policy and Research Officer at ESAFF
Uganda said.
ESAFF Chairpeson showing the pPrime Minister Some of the products Small Scale Famers produces during the World Food Day at Namulonge |
Currently most Countries in in the region are experiencing rising food prices this has led to some Scientists to advocates for the adoption of Biotechnology which they say it can save the World from food Insecurity since the products produced through Biotechnology can withstand Climatic Change conditions, however most farmers especially the Small Scale one's who contributes about 73% of the farming communities ,say that introducing GMO it may infringe on farmers rights on access to seeds because GMO seeds involves ownership Rights and also has negative impact on the Biodiversity which may hinders some Countries like Uganda not to attain Sustainable Development Goals.
"The decision is not vital
because of its impacts on the Small Scale farmer's despite the 2022 World Food
Day, it is marked against the COVID-19 pandemic, rising food prices and
desperation of small scale farmers towards their seed variety rights through
registration, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, and food and
nutrition insecurity. These factors, alongside the increasing effects of
climate change pose many challenges to small scale farmers to sustain their
livelihoods and feed the world “He added.
According to recent UN published
report on global food security and nutrition 2022, found that the world is off
track and 8% of the population could be facing hunger by 2030, the date
initially set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve one of its
primary targets of zero hunger World.
“We need to urgently transform
our agri-food systems to be more efficient, more resilient, more inclusive and
more sustainable. “He said in the report.
In Uganda, Crop genetics
diversity continues to be maintained by small-scale farmers’ fields in the form
of farmer varieties yet a few have not been included in the National Variety
Lists, which is a precondition for propagation material of these varieties to
be produced on large scale.
Hakim Baliraine the Chairperson
of ESAFF, -Uganda told Environment News Uganda that they have tried to have
dialogue with Government which led to the development of some recommendation
that are friendly to Small Scale Farmers but Government has not yet implemented
them.
"As farmers Movement's we
have tried to work with Government and other development organization such as
Oxfam ,NARO ,Biovesity International to develop roadmap for registration of
local seeds however the framework has not been implemented by Government we
appeal to Government to respect the recommendations that were Agreed on during
the meeting between farmers and Government Agencies under Ministry of
Agriculture" He said.
According to him, Farmers organization had an engagement with Government Agencies on
Crop inputs Varieties registration where
a roadmap for registration of farmers’ varieties in Uganda was developed to address
the gaps in the current seed laws and unanimous action agreed upon to push for
Cabinet approval of a draft but this has not been implemented by Government.
"Moving forward, the
Government through the National Seed Certification Services under MAAIF
instituted a committee to advance the processes for the development of guidelines
on farmers’ variety registration and establishing mechanisms for registration
at both local and national levels. We are concerned that since its inception,
the committee has never operated due to financial constraints as farmers we
call on Government to source for financial resources to fund the
operationalizations of the Committee.
Farmers believe that recognizing their Rights to own seeds through variety registration will increase
the production of farmer seeds varieties, hence
increasing farmer-based seeds
enterprises, income generation from seeds sales, quality seeds, which may led to
increased food production in the Country
and hence improving Nutrition in Uganda and in the region at large and
Africa as Continent which is food
insecure.
Farmers believe that Protecting
Farmers' rights on seed's Will also reduce farmers’ dependence on patented
seeds and expensive fertilizers as well as a reduction on the risks to
biodiversity. As Small-Scale farmers we ask Government to create conducive
Environment to Small Scale farmers to operate.
As way forward farmers ate a urging Government
to Develop guidelines for the registration of Small Scale farmers produced
variety seeds and popularize the guidelines among small-scale farmers.
Lastly the Small-Scale Farmers
are also asking
Government to strength small
scale farmers groups that are actively conserving biodiversity in Uganda. The
famers say, Government should develop guidelines for building stronger linkages
between small-scale farmers, community seed banks and the national gene bank.
However, in telephone Interview
with the minister of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries Frank Tumwebaze
said that Small Scale farmers should work with other stake holders in the
Agriculture Sector if their concerns ate to be realized.
Wednesday 7 September 2022
Invest more resources in Research,EAC Universities are told
BY SAMUEL NABWIISO
ENTEBBE -UGANDA: Fighting
poverty in the East African Community Member States will not be achieved if
institutions of Higher Learning from the Seven Members Economic block do not invest
more resources both financial and Human resources in Researches and share data
from their findings.
According to policy makers from
the region, Institutions of Higher Learning plays big role towards fighting
poverty through carrying out researches from which the study findings can guide
policy makers to make investment decisions.
"As region we need a lot of
data on key sectors such as Education, Health, Transport but the policy makers
are not accessing to such information in
the region because less studies have been undertaken by research institution's
such as Universities and where research has been under taken, the study
findings are not shared among member states in the region which negatively
impedes decision making" Explained Uganda's State
Minister of Education Technology and Sports in Charge of Higher Education Dr.John
Chrysostom Muyingo
The Minister made the alarming statement
during the inter-university Council of East Africa meeting held in Entebbe-Uganda
on Strengthening Coordination of Collection and Management of Data in Higher
Education and University Research in the EAC region.
The forum brought together
stakeholders in higher education including Universities, National Councils of
Higher Education, key technocrats from Ministries of Education in EAC Partner
States and other research institutions to discuss research coordination for
evidence-based policy making.
Muyingo, added by advising
Universities in the region to train researchers who are capable to produce
quality data that can guide decision/policy makers, the minister observed that
many researchers in the region are producing research reports which are
substandard and this affects Investment decision making by governments in the
region's.
To ensure that there's accurate
data concerning the Education Sector in Uganda as guiding tool for proper
planning in the Education Sector, Muyingo said the Government of Uganda has
embarked on the Education Management Information System which aims at capturing
all data on School aged going children.
"This initiative will capture data for learners starting at pre-Primary to Universities as Government we think the data generated from the Exercise will help decision makers to plan for Education sector both at Central level and Local Government's we challenge all the governments in the region to replicate what Uganda is doing to generate accurate data concerning the Education Sector for proper planning. “The minister said.
Participants in Group Photo with the Minister Fourth from the right on the front low |
Speaking the same event, the
Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council of East Africa, Professor
Gaspard Banyankimbona, said the council has also embarked on an initiative with
support from development partner organizations to develop Higher Education
Information Management Systems.
Professor Gaspard Banyankimbona, making his A dress during the meeting |
Monday 22 August 2022
Uganda gets, a $1Million medical diagnostic Laboratory
BY SAMNUEL NABWIISO
KAMPALA-UGANDA -Metropolis Health care limited one of the India s leading medical diagnostic company has officially launched their state of the. art medical diagnostic Laboratory in Uganda
The Kampala based medical infrastructure which is valued at
$1milion has the capacity to conduct
maximum number of sample testing per day.
Avadhut Joshi the Chief Executive Officer International
Business, at the Metropolis Healthcare said the medical Laboratory has been
equipped with modern medical Laboratory diagnostic equipment’s.
"The Kampala based medical diagnostic Laboratory has
been equipped with state of the art diagnostic technological equipment’s to
deliver best in class patients services since the center also has best
qualified staffs to handle the patient’s services “The CEO said during the
Launch of the Diagnostic Testing Laboratory in Uganda.
He added that the opening of the Metropolis Medical
Laboratory in Uganda will contribute greatly to the Country’s health sector
because it is going to create avenues for medical technological transfer since
the company will be directly working with the local hospitals and clinicians to
ensure that they adopt the usages of modern technologies on the market which is
one way of building the country's medical
Human resources as the company has been doing in some countries
where the Metropolis Health care
operates.
Dr. Susan Nabadda cutting the ribon during tje opening of the Laboratory |
.Currently on the African Continent, the India’s based Metropolis
Healthcare medical diagnostic Health services provider company is currently
operating in South Africa, Kenya, Zambia and latest it has opened up its
footprint in Uganda.
Officiating at the grand opening of the medical diagnostic
center in Kampala,the Commissioner for Medical Laboratory Services in the
Ministry of Health,Dr Susan Nabadda said the coming on board by Metropolis
healthcare devices in Uganda will have positive impact on the country's health sector,
she said many Uganda's have been incurring huge expenditure to travel to India
for highly specialized medical diagnostic service's but with the coming of
Metropolis healthcare services provider all these will be done in Uganda.
"This is great achievement for us in the medical sector
because the center will offer services here locally this saves time for the
professionals to offer quality health services but also it lowers the cost of
accessing equality medical services by our patients who have been travelling to
India to get quality specialized medical services “She said.
She noted that government diagnostic centers alone cannot
offer the required services from members of the public thus the need for the
private sector to come on board and support government through establishing
medical diagnostic centers across the various parts of the country where the
medical diagnostic services are highly demanded.
"As Government we shall support the private sector to
ensure that they invest in the country's health sector" She promised.
Speaking at the same event, the founder of Metropolis
Healthcare Dr Sushil Shah noted that his company will continue investing in
those Countries where the demand for quality diagnostic medical services are
highly demanded.
"Our coming to Uganda was based on our research work where
we found that there were some gaps when it comes to access to quality
specialised medical diagnostic health services as company we are committed to
offer quality medical diagnostic related health services to the general public
in Uganda “He said.
In Uganda, Metropolis Healthcare services provider will offer
a comprehensive range of about 4000 clinical laboratory tests and profiles used
for predication, early detection, diagnostic, screening confirmation and
monitoring of diseases.
The diagnostic solutions that will be offered at the center
include routine semi specialty and supper specialty domains like Oncology,
Neurology, Gynecology Nephrology and many other related medical conditions.