By Emmanuel Gyezaho
Ugandan leader Mr Yoweri Kaguta Museveni officially opened the Commonwealth Peoples Forum at Hotel Africana in uptown Kampala, making a bold call for better working relations between politicians and civil society.
He was conscious about the often acrimonious and warring relations between these two key social change actors insisting that “we need each other.” In a speech laced with humour, Mr Museveni urged the gathering of hundreds of civil society delegates representing 1.8 billion citizens from the 53 commonwealth countries, to focus on environmental protection as a priority in their discussions which formally open on Monday 18th.
Environment and natural resources is a key civil society issue up for discussion.
Mr Museveni said “primitive agriculture†and the use of “biomass for cooking as firewood†are Africa’s biggest threats on the environment. And to avert that threat, third world governments must industrialise and “massively†embrace electrification, he said. “Environmentalists must be a bigger supporter of industrialisation,†he said. “To do otherwise would just be a waste of time.â€
Is the world not facing the brunt of greenhouse emission courtesy of industrialisation?
The Ugandan leader said companies that produce greenhouse gases, are inspired by “greed†(not a noble way to destroy the environment), suggesting that in Africa, it would be acceptable if the environment is destroyed “out of the necessity†to develop “but not greed.â€
After his speech, it wasn’t in doubt that the civil society delegates Mr Museveni described as “philanthropists†were certain that the environment, (an issue often given little priority) would be top on the agenda for the discussions at the CPF.
That the environment will receive the attention we all hope it does is a matter only time will tell.
I thank the President, Mr. Y.K. Museveni for enlighting the civil society about the environment and mainly to call for ‘good relations’ between the two.
Global worming is here with us, we need to plan ahead of it before it kills all of us bearing in mind that we, Africans, specifically Uganda, may not have the capacity to handle the effects, impact and implications!
Long live CHOGM, Long Live President Museveni
Its indeed important to embrace Renewable energy technologies for household use. In addition the President mentions poor agricultural methods. The issue now is for Government to have a framework for implementing clean energy issues. The Ministry of energy is at the forefront of this struggle. However, investor interests i.e. Mabira case, may derail these noble intentions.
It is important to get more of our top leaders to identify positively with efforts of civil society activities aimed at addressing environmental issues, and in particular the global warming. That Mr. Museveni has come out call on CS to build good relations with the siting governments is very commendable. CS in Uganda should strive to engage the Government in identifying, planning and implementing down to earth programmes that contribute to reducing environmenmtal abuse and global warming in particular. Let us (CS) desisit from aportioning blem.
At fora like these, we often hear good words from all, including politicians. Let us just wait and see what will happen a few months after CHOGM. If words get transformed into action then all of us will be beneficiaries. Otherwise, I will remain a skeptic!
i appreciate the fact that Mr. Museveni is getting concerned with the environment threat to our country. with the global warming issue raising everyone’s ear, he was right on target. though his speech was good, i doubt his potential to live to see that dream fulfilled. what do i mean. from the past, we have seen him promise and fail to fulfil or contradict his promises. can u imagine that even when you look all around you just now you realise that almost all the structures neighbouring you are in the wetlands. i was thrown into laughter some time back when the KAMPALA CITY COUNCIL OFFICIALS limited Mr.Nyakana from building/setting up structures in the centenary park just on your side. stretch your neck and you will see. claiming that it is a wetland and it never lasted months to erase the reason out of the ugandas’ minds, that the land near Garden city which is a true wetland was ploughed and filled with soil to put up structures. it is not more than 3 metres from the centenary park scene. then my question is; WILL MR. MUSEVENI LIVE TO BE A MAN OF HIS WORDS WITHOUT HIS PERSONAL CONSCIENCE CONTROVERSY? bniwagaba @yahoo.com
Whereas i would like to congratulate the government and the general ugandan populous on hosting the CHOGM summit, i would like to comment on one thing, that if we are to prosper lets be genuine in our conduct. I get suddened that some people up to now are trying to decampaign CHOGM. How can someone wish for more rain to fall so that the summit is interrupted? such a wish is so corrupt, myopic and rediculous.
I thank the President for as usual, the speech well delivered! But sorry to remain skeptic as to whether something tangiable is gonna be done in that direction. All of us we are talking of environmental changes, but i stand to be counted if any one you, including the president and entire commonwealth leadership is capacititated in any way to change the trend and the rate at which the environment changing. Am of the view that we should now talk of disaster preparedness and management plans at local and national levels. As human being, we have to appreciate that we have a limit when it comes to dealing with natare and or natural trends which determines particular events, we percive as disasters. The Commonwealth leadership should be proactive in the direction of what should be done should the climatic change bleed a particular disaster, which diectly impact gravely on our masses, whether socially, economically and otherwise and how best to rehabilitate and support those already affected due climatical changes. otherwise, if you keep on just talking of averting climate change, which without doubt your ’success’ will ashame you in both short,medium and long terms, you will be like an ostrich which thinks that, by burrying its head in the sand thinking that since its not seeing any body so nobody is seeing it! So you by talking, and talking about preventing climate and or environmental changes, without building local and national capacities for disaster preparedness and management doesn’t mean climate change and its effects wont strick you ‘undergarments’ down. stand warned!
I too share in the presidents enthusiasm.
However the practical historical importance of this event is a thing we all await to see.
Cheers Uganda.