The Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, has urged Ugandans to plant more trees in order to preserve the environment, and to also enjoy the positive outcomes of climate change.
“We all know about climate change. If we do not plant more trees we shall face its negative impacts,’’ she said. The Speaker was Chief Guest at a Thanksgiving Ceremony for Hon. Lawrence Biyika Songa, (Ora County) at the District Farm Institute in Zeu, Zombo district, on Saturday 22nd April 2017.
Kadaga also told the residents that when she was flying over the region, she had noticed that while a very big piece land was covered by the Lendu forest in one area, the rest of the land was bare. , She therefore advised the political and cultural institutions to promote and call on their people to plant as many trees as they can, so as to protect the environment.
The Speaker also proposed a new practice to the residents of Zombo, when she rallied every person to plant a tree at any big function be it a political thanksgiving ceremony or a family party.
“Whenever we have a good occasion, like weddings and introductions, let us plant trees for our new in-laws, and also in our own new homes. We should also plant a tree for any newly borne babies, so as to make Uganda evergreen,” she advised.
Hinting on the fact that Zombo is the largest tea producer in Uganda, the Speaker called on the Government to establish a tea production factory in order to create more jobs for the people of Zombo, and to also promote value addition to the tea processing industry rather than exporting it to other places in raw forms.
Kadaga also called on the Zombo community to embrace Operation Wealth Creation, and utilize the seeds well. She, however, warned on the misuse of the products they receive.
“I have heard of people who eat the seeds and roast the animals they receive through Operation Wealth Creation; this is a wrong and criminal act,” she said.
The Speaker also appealed to the youth to embrace the Youth Livelihood Programme in order to transform their lives and also develop their communities. However, she warned District authorities who are embezzling this money and therefore making it hard for youth to access the funds.
Kadaga praised Hon. Nsonga, whom she described as a “strong, well educated person who only presents ideas after good research.” She added that Hon. Nsonga is very passionate about climate issues and that it was not by chance that he was entrusted with the responsibility to head the Forum on Climate change in Parliament.
She promised to work hand in hand with Hon. Nsonga to support projects in Zombo and to ensure that Government considers the DRC border road in the 2017/2018 Budget.
Religious leaders at the function commended the Speaker for properly steering the legislature and for also passing laws that respect culture. They also commended Parliament for the Anti-Homosexuality Bill and recommended that it be reintroduced for consideration.
The ceremony was attended by Ministers of State for Northern Uganda, Hon. Grace Kwiyucwinyi; Parliamentary Commissioner Hon. Cecilia Ogwal; a number of MPs from the different political parties and His Royal Highness Phillip Ubimu Olarker Rauni the King of Alur.
