Invest in access to clean water to avert diseases, A new report suggests

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO

A new report by WHO and UNICEF, released on Global Handwashing Day, reveals that giving everyone in the world’s poorest countries access to handwashing with soap and water, would cost around $11 billion. That would transform the life-chances of people who are currently unable to simply wash their hands at home.

“Millions of lives could be saved and billions of dollars in untapped economic potential could be unlocked for the equivalent of just $1.40 per head of the global population”, says WaterAid.

As G20 leaders prepare to gather in Rome to improve pandemic preparedness, WaterAid warns that government investment must be made to provide handwashing for all as it plays a critical role in the fight against preventable diarrhoeal diseases and respiratory infections

Washing hands with soap and clean  water can reduces the out brake of diseases  

According to latest estimates from WHO and UNICEF, three in 10 people worldwide cannot wash with soap and water at home, and at current rates of progress, 1.9 billion people – families and children – will still be unable to so by 2030.

WaterAid’s own recent analysis in its Mission Critical report, concluded that trillions of dollars could be unlocked over the next two decades through universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene. Achieving this could generate a net benefit of $45bn per year, and even just providing a tap in every household could yield $37bn USD annually.

WaterAid warned  that progress is worryingly slow. For everyone to be able to wash their hands at home by 2030, one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, governments need to make progress at least four times faster than they currently are. However, the economic value of handwashing for all, alongside water and sanitation services, is vastly underestimated by governments, business and donors, resulting in chronic under-investment.

Investing in water, sanitation and hygiene brings multiple wins for governments, WaterAid says: it is value for money, it helps achieve health targets and it increases productivity to support economic growth. If governments invested in even basic water, hygiene and toilets it would bring a return on investment of up to 21 times the cost.

Small scale farmers are holding their 3rd Annual National Organic Week

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO

Small Scale Farmers in Uganda are holding their 3^rd Annual National Organic Week where farmers especially small holder ones across the country meet and show cases on how  to promote Organic Farming in the Country .   

 Organic agriculture is described as a system that emphasizes environmental protection and the use of natural farming techniques. It is concerned not only with the end-product, but with the entire system used to produce and deliver the agricultural product and many Organic farmers rely instead on natural farming methods and modern scientific ecological knowledge in order to maximize the long-term health and productivity of the ecosystem, enhance the quality of the products and protect the environment.

According to the National Chairman of the Eastern and Southern Africa Small holder farmer’s forum (Uganda Chapter) Hakim Baliraine said that small-scale farmers across the country are subconsciously practicing organic agriculture though need more information on organic markets and enhancing capacity on organic agriculture practices in order to motivate uptake

Baliraine further added that there is a need to sensitize the general public about the many benefits of consuming organically produced foods because of the health benefits it offers to the consumers, he said that there’s also high economic benefits which comes with the farming of organically Agricultural products since the market for such products is available both on the local market, Regionals ones and International   

“Over the last decade, the global production and trade in Organic Agriculture has been expanding exponentially. The unfolding market opportunities globally especially in the developed countries of Europe and North America, shifts in consumer preferences to safe and hazard free organic food, increasing consciousness about conservation of the environment as well as health hazards associated with agrochemicals are some of the major factors for the growing interest in Organic Agriculture” He said.

small holder farmers practicing Organic Farming 

Over time, ESAFF Uganda has been organizing different interventions that aim at promoting seed rights and organic agriculture such as creating awareness and enhancing farmer’s capacities on seed rights and organic agriculture, setting demonstration gardens, farmers seed sovereignty using different approaches. It’s on that note therefore that ESAFF Uganda has organized the 3rd National Organic Week 2021 under the theme: “Go organic, It’s only Natural”

 

During this 3rd Annual National Organic Week (NOW) 2021, ESAFF Uganda has organized different activities such as the National dialogue, tree planting caravan, cookery demonstrations and seed fairs, community dialogues and radio talk shows in different districts.

 The NOW 2021 aims at raising awareness on farmers seed rights and the benefits of locally produced organic food and increase consumption frequency among small scale farmers and other stakeholders and providing a platform for SSFs to engage different stakeholders and exhibit how ecological agriculture systems are a critical solution to the realization and food and nutrition security amidst the climate change crisis.

About, the Eastern and Southern Africa Small-scale Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF) Uganda is the largest small-scale farmer-led policy influencing movement in Uganda. ESAFF Uganda was established to bring together small-scale farmers into a social movement to build common aspirations, learnings and linkages. farmers’ organizations in other 15 countries in eastern and southe

Address other other Health needs of the population CSO, urges Ugandan Government

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO

Civil societies advocating for free HIV /AIDS society especially among the young people are calling up on Government not to give more priority in the fighting of the spread of COVID-19 but also put more emphasis on other diseases that are claiming the lives of many Ugandans.

 The civil societies under the leadership of Uganda Network of young people Living with HIV/AIDS (UNYPA) says that Government should come up with comprehensive Health / Medical Interventions that addresses all the health needs of the ordinary people in the country.

 According to Awori Ruth, the Programme manager at UNYPA says that many young people living with HIV/AIDS have lost their lives due to the pronounced lock down measures which government declared as way of means to combat the spread of Corona Virus.

>“We congratulate our Government towards the combating of COVID-19 but the measures have greatly affected the young people living with the HIV virus, the measures especially those that restricted the movement of people hindered the youth to access to heal facilities where they go for the HIV/AIDS related health service s such as access to counseling and HIV /AIDS related drugs” Awori said

 Among other diseases which the civil societies wants government to priorities alongside the combating of COVID-19 include HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis, Mental health, Cancer among other diseases, she said that the government should ensure that the local people suffering from such illness access to quality health / medical services for the better of their lives.

 The officer made the appeal during the Launch of the 8th Edition of the younger people living with HIV/AIDS beauty pageant at the Kampala Serena Hotel.

 Speaking at the same event, the Executive Director of UNYPA Isaac Lekdyang said that fighting HIV /AIDS among the young people require more approaches that ate friendly to them that is why they have resorted to organism Beauty pageant competitions for the younger people living with the virus which he said it has helped I fighting stigma among the communities towards young people living with the virus.

 “As an organization we have been organizing theses Beauty pageant for the last over six years this is our 8th edition through edition we have managed to get winners from the regions of Uganda who later becomes our Ambassador’s in the lower communities towards the fight against HIV/ AIDS “ He explained. 

 The Young Positive Beauty Pageant is an annually campaign aimed at fighting stigma and discrimination as well as addressing the structural drivers of gender based violence and other HIV /Sexual reproductive Health issues against young people living with and affected by the HIV/AIDS.

 Furthermore, the beauty contest also addresses both self-stigma faced by young people living with the virus and the community stigma driven by the environment towards Young people living with the virus by uplifting their plight and harnessing the power of empowered young people living with the virus.

 The objective of the competition is to improve care and support within the health sector and home based care giving. This will be achieved through engagement of young positive living youth Ambassadors who will continuous sensitize their host communities about HIV /AIDS. Second to that the campaign also aims at reducing the challenge impediment to public health programs, leading to a reduction in further HIV infections, the provision of adequate health care and support as well as mitigating the impact of HIV/ AIDS.

Access Agriculture Launches an online EcoAgtube video-sharing platform

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO Recognising the close link between healthy ecosystems, healthy earth and healthy people, we are delighted to officially announce the launch of EcoAgtube (www.ecoagtube.org), a new open access platform for hosting and sharing videos dedicated to green living and sustainable food systems to help protect the environment and preserve natural resources for current and future generations. Josephine Rodgers, Executive Director of Access Agriculture, explains that EcoAgtube is targeted to all those with an interest in agroecology and the environment to showcase their experience and local innovations. “EcoAgtube is your platform, where you can freely upload and share your own video clips in any language to inspire, engage, empower and activate others in your country and across the world.” The EcoAgtube platform, which is accessible on computers and mobile devices, is an initiative of Access Agriculture (www.accessagriculture.org), an international nonprofit that promotes agroecology and rural entrepreneurship. Seeking to support a more circular economy by eliminating waste and regenerating natural systems, EcoAgtube covers a variety of topics that range from sustainable agricultural practices to climate and environment, land and water, forestry, food and health, ecotourism, green building and energy, among others. The platform has been designed to meet users’ needs with streamlined navigation that makes it easy and fast to explore categories and subcategories and discover the content and features they are interested in. It will be continually updated with the latest videos, highlighting featured and popular videos and top channels. Registered users can upload, view and share videos and comment on them, create playlists and channels and monitor trends and performance. The platform has a section on projects which serves as a repository for users to host and manage their own project videos. Users can also access guides on how to upload videos and create channels and projects. As can be seen from the feedback below, some of our partners from across the world who have already seen glimpses of EcoAgtube have warmly welcomed its creation as it fills a much-needed gap for increasingly environment-conscious individuals and communities to share their experience through a dedicated video-sharing platform that can reach a worldwide audience and build awareness.

Climate Change Effects Needs to be addressed as a whole-Experts BY Patrick Uma.

 BY Patrick Uma.

Climate change activists in the Country are calling up on government and non states actors in environment to develop mechanisms that can address the effects of climate change.

According to Ms. Miriam Talwisa, the National Coordinator of Climate Action network Uganda said that effects of Climate change are cross cutting issues that affects all sectors in the Economy.

‘’Climate change effects are of cross-cutting issue thus the need all players to play their role when it comes to the fighting of its. On the side of government the burdens should only be left to Central government but also local leaders need to effectively participate in addressing the effects of climate change as a whole.’’ Said Talwisa.

Some of the Climate Change Activists  posing in photo

The coordinator made the remarks recently while meeting climate Actors, and Local leaders from Northern Uganda.

She also revealed that they are developing a Joint Citizen’s manifesto on Climate change which will act as a basis and a tool for demanding action accountability on climate change at all levels for the period of 2021-2026.

She added that the document will act as a basis for informing the much needed Political and legislative advocacy while engaging the new Political parties, donors, local leaders to focus on a greener, cleaner and a safer recovery from climate impacts and Covid-19

According to Mr. Arthur Owor, the Coordinator of ‘Our Trees, We need answers’ a Community based organization fighting for Climate Justice in Northern Uganda, said Climate Change effects are very broad adding that the Citizens Manifesto will help to bring voices from below to be heard.

Owor, also added that as ‘Our Trees, we need answers’’ they have noted that Citizens have been empowered through their initiatives of putting errand leaders on the spot for environmental justice and they will continue to advocate for a safer and better environment with the newly elected leaders

Uganda has experienced many drastic effects of climate change including, droughts, flooding, mudslides among other which have affected thousands of people across the country.

 

Uganda Free Zones Authority Staff Donate Blood

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO 

Uganda is among the countries with high rate of motor accident coupled with other medical emergencies such as women giving birth through cesarean procedures. The country also has high number of her citizens suffering from cancer alongside children suffering from chronical diseases such as sickle cell and other medical conditions requiring blood transfusion. 

 

But according to information from Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS), the country is now facing shortage of blood supply in all its centers across the country because of the outbreak of Covid-19 Epidemic which led to closure Learning Institutions where the Medical agency used to collect most of the blood through voluntary blood donations by the students across the country. UBTS notes that before the outbreak of the deadly fever, the country had good stock of blood supplies in most of the Country's regional blood banks and medical facilities to handle medical complications that required blood transfusion.

 

 "Currently as Nakasero Blood Bank, we are not doing well when it comes to blood collection despite the fact that the demand for blood in most health facilities in the country has gone up. There’s urgent need for the general public to respond to our calls to voluntarily blood donations. Availability of blood in medical facilities plays a key role in saving people's lives especially those who have involved in accidents, Children with sickle cell anemia among other health complications” Explained Esther Awori,the Nakasero Blood Bank Donor Recruiter.

Staff,s of Uganda Free Zones Authority Donating Blood  

The Officer made the appeal during a blood donations drive organized by Uganda Free Zones Authority. She observed that if both Government Agencies alongside the Private Sector participate effectively in mobilizing the general public towards voluntary blood donations, the country couldn't be experiencing blood supply shortage.

 She applauded the Authority for starting such Initiative where it mobilizes members of the public to effectively participate in blood donations. This has enabled the blood bank to collect quite a good number of blood units annually.

Doreen Kembabazi, the Authority’sspokesperson, explained that the Authority organizes a blood donation drive on annually basis at their offices where members of the public and Authority’s staff donate blood on voluntary basis.

 

 "As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility, the Authority supports those in need of blood by making it possible for willing and able Ugandans to share their love by donating blood to save lives. It is a fact that blood cannot be manufactured anywhere else in the world except in human beings. Let us all respond to the call to donate blood and save lives “She told the media.

Member of the community Donating Blood 

James Atwine,bodaboda rider, who participated in the blood donation told this website that, he voluntarily donated blood because he has lost two relatives who were in need of blood but couldn’t find it at the Health facility after the two were involved in motor accident.

 

 “Every year I donate blood to save lives of my fellow Ugandans who may be in need of it” He said

 

Cancel Environment Social Impact Assessment certificate to hoima sugar ltd due to violation of certificate conditions

 BY SAMUEL NABWIISO

 Environmentalist are urging Government to cancel the ESIA Certificate it gave to Hoima sugar Limited  they urges that  Hoima Sugar Ltd has failed to live up to key conditions in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) certificate of approval that the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) issued to the company, the Save Bugoma Forest Campaign (SBFC) can reveal.

 GPS images in the hands of the SBFC show that as at January 7, 2021, Hoima Sugar Ltd had cultivated 405 hectares of Bugoma forest land. This is being done with impunity and in disregard of the ongoing court cases in both the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Part of the Bugoma Forest that has been cleared by the sugar company
 

.The above court cases are contesting the validity of the ESIA certificate that was issued to Hoima Sugar Ltd by NEMA and the land titles issued by Ministry of Lands to Hoima Sugar Ltd and Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom.

 Sadly, part of the 405 hectares of Bugoma forest land that has been destroyed by Hoima Sugar Ltd is that that was approved for ecotourism purposes, and not sugarcane growing.

 “Condition 4.7 of Hoima Sugar Ltd’s ESIA certificate of approval says that the company has to ‘Ensure that the [sugarcane] plantation … is restricted to the areas indicated in the ESIS [Environmental and Social Impact Statement] …’

 By cultivating land meant for ecotourism purposes, Hoima Sugar has flouted condition 4.7, which is a key certificate condition.

 Moreover, Condition 4.5 of the certificate says that before developing an ecotourism centre, cultural site, workers’ camps and others, Hoima Sugar is required to conduct separate ESIA studies for each of those projects.

In as far as we are aware, no ESIA study has been submitted to NEMA and no certificate of approval has been issued for the ecotourism project. Why then has land that was earmarked for ecotourism purposes been cleared?” Mr. Dickens Kamugisha, the Chairperson of the SBFC said in media Statement  the group issued recently.

 He adds, “The truth, which we are calling Ugandans to remain alive to, is that a sugarcane company with no track record in ecotourism and one that dared to touch a key national resource is unlikely to keep it safe. This is why Hoima Sugar’s illegal activities in Bugoma forest must be stopped immediately.”

 

HISTORY OF VIOLATION OF LAWS

 

This isn’t the first time that due processes are being flouted in Hoima Sugar’s Kyangwali Mixed Land Use project, the project for which the company received an ESIA certificate of approval from NEMA on August 14, 2020.

 

Prior to issuance of the certificate, both Hoima Sugar and NEMA violated key environmental laws that would have safeguarded Bugoma forest from destruction.

 “Among the laws are the 1998 Environmental Impact Assessment [EIA] Regulations. For instance, under regulation 10, Hoima Sugar was required to comply with the NEMA-approved Terms of Reference for its ESIA study. The company failed to do this.

Under regulation 12, developers are required to seek the views of the people who are likely to be affected by a project during the study. This requirement also wasn’t complied with by Hoima Sugar,” Mr. Bashir Twesigye, a lawyer who is also a member of the SBFC, says.

 He adds, “On its part, NEMA is, under regulations 19 and 20, required to invite for written comments on an ESIA study from the general public and affected communities respectively. The invitation is supposed to be made through newspapers with national or local circulation among others.

 Under regulation 21, NEMA is mandated to organise public hearings for controversial projects and those with transboundary impacts.

 NEMA neither invited for comments from the general public and affected communities through the media and neither did the authority organise public hearings on the controversial project of growing sugarcane in Bugoma forest.”

 

COURT CASES

 

The above among other violations caused the SBFC to sue NEMA through court cases seeking for cancellation of the ESIA certificate of approval issued to Hoima Sugar.

 A court case for cancellation of the freehold and leasehold land titles that were issued by Ministry of Lands to Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom and Hoima Sugar respectively in 2016 is also before the Court of Appeal to protect the forest.

 “Hoima Sugar’s impunity of destroying even the land that was meant for ecotourism could preempt these cases that are aimed at stopping destruction of the forest.

 The SBFC is therefore unequivocally calling on the company to stop destroying the forest.

 NEMA should also review Hoima Sugar’s activities with the view of cancelling the certificate that the authority issued to the company due to none-compliance to the certificate’s conditions.

 Under condition 8, NEMA clearly stated that it would cancel/suspend/withdraw the company’s certificate if conditions under section 4 aren’t complied with. We expect NEMA to comply with its own certificate conditions,” Ms. Ruth Kiwanuka of the SBFC says.

 The SBFC is also calling on courts to expeditiously hear the cases for cancellation of the ESIA certificate of approval to Hoima Sugar and those for cancellation of the land titles to Bunyoro Kingdom and Hoima Sugar Ltd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gulu Visual Artists Uses Arts to Combat Environmental degradation

 BY PATRICK UMA. 

 Two visual artists in Gulu are using non degradable waste material to produce mix media painting; and in turn help to combat environmental pollution According to Peter Sai, a Gulu-based visual Artist, he uses non-degradable waste materials like plastics, metals scrap's used polythene bags to come up with a composition of various arts.

 ‘’Through using this non-degradable waste material, we are saving the environment from being degraded thus making it a better place to live in.’’Sai Told the Environment News Uganda in Gulu City during an Exclusive Interview.

 Sai added that he had to drop out of his business administration course at Gulu University 5 years ago and pursue his passion for painting and visual arts because it his in-build passion.

 

 ‘’everyday people see me collecting plastics bottles and Buvera,s in the City and also on the streets and some might think I am crazy, but I am only saving the environment.’’ He added.

Peter Sai, a Gulu based visual artist holds his paintings at the recent art display in Gulu City.[ PHOTO BY PATRICK UMA.

 Sai was among the couple of visual artists who displayed their art works for the public from the Innovation village center in Gulu City. Thomas Vava, another Gulu based visual artist said that he developed the idea of using plastic and used Buvera,s for his art work during the lock down.

 ‘’As Arts we experienced shortage of materials used in painting such as paint due to lockdown which was declared by government as a way of mitigating the spread of the deadly Covid-19 disease that is why we resorted to come up with the innovation of using non-degradable materials around us such as the used Buveras and metal scrap's that were in plenty to do our Art work"Vaca explained 

Visual Artist Thomas Vava in front of his Art gallery in Gulu City.[PHOTO BY PATRICK UMA]

Thomas owns Vava Arts studio where he has designed portraits of famous people like Mahatma Ghandi, Nelson Madela, and Dr. Mathew Lukwiya among others The visual artists plan to establish one of the biggest art galleries in the post-conflict Northern Uganda. 

Why Non-degradable plastic materials should be properly disposed off. According to scientists poor disposal of plastic has negative Impacts to the people's lives and that of reptile such as fish. On Humans the poorly disposed off of the Non degradable can lead to Diseases like Cancer among other diseases then on the side of Reptiles such as fish the Accumulation of Non degradable wastes can lead excessive accumulation of carbon dioxide in the water bodies which in turn interferes with a key brain receptor in fishes' brains, affecting their ability to hear, smell, turn and evade predators

EZYAGRIC: WHAT ALL FARMERS SHOULD EMBRACE TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR?

 BY SAMUEL NABWIISO

 The Agricultural sector is considered the Economic back bone of Uganda, contributing about 25% of the Country's Gross Domestic Product and 70% employment of the Country's population.

 The major players in the sector according to Information from Bank of Uganda are the smallholder farmers with women taking majority share, whilst the youth participate the least despite them contributing the largest percentage to the country’s population.

 The justification for their negative attitudes towards the Agriculture Sector has been attributed to the many challenges being faced in the sector such as access to credits from financial Institutions, fake Agro-inputs on the market, inadequate access to Agricultural Extension services, alongside limited market access for their produce both Locally, Regionally and Internationally among others.

 Resultantly, this has compelled the Private sector to wake up and come up with cheap and yet convenient solutions to help avert the above challenges and make agriculture lucrative through digitization.

 Uganda’s mobile phone penetration has seen a steep growth year on year currently sitting at 6.6 million users and projected to more than double in the next decade.

 Information and Technology companies such as EZYAGRIChavedeveloped an IT Farmers App that can support farmers to overcome such challenges and those who have used the application can attest to how it has been a major game changer.

 Mr.Kalanzi Patrick from Zirobwe, Luwero District in Ugandasays “The App has helped him gain access to genuine and high-quality inputs delivered in a timely manner at a click of a button, an element that has since increased his yield.

Kalanzi Patrick from Zirobwe  who has tested the App saay the technology has heleped hi to access Agri -inputs

The EzyAgric Appis an end-to-end farming solution that supports farmers to improve their livelihoods through simplified farmer planning, supporting farmers to access to genuine Agro -inputs, e-extension services, alongside other benefits such as farmer linkage to market of their produce and also access to credits from financial institutions such as banks and micro finance.

 According to Matilda Babuleka the Chief Product Marketing Officer at EzyAgric the App was developed to make Agricultural sector more lucrative to all Ugandans because it creates a conducive Environment to all players in the Sector which enhances productivity and revenue earnings to all players from the farmers to the Agro-Business communities.

How to get the App?

 The applicationis available on the Google play store where it can be downloaded for those farmers with smart phone's, the App takes a Small space of about 25Mb.

 To ensure that no farmer is left out, EZYAGRIC is also working with the community Agents who have been trained to use the App and support them onboard.

 How to use the EzyAgric App?

1.    Download the EzyAgricApp from Google play store and install on your phone.

 

    Register for an account using your mobile phone number which will be validated and confirmed.

 

3.    Browse the list of the services of your choice for example Agro-inputs like seeds, fertilizers and farming tools or Agriculture credit in the App.

 

4.    Once the preferred service has been made,the user proceeds to check out and payment is initiated.

5.     

6.   Post order confirmation, user proceeds to effect the payment which is also digital, through mobile money.

 

With such new innovations Information and Communication technology can make farming very cheap, more productive hence improving the livelihoods of Sector players in Agriculture.

 

Download Now from google play store