Elgon region dwellers challenged to restore the green vegetative cover

By Walukhu Simon Peter, STEP FM/NECJOGHA 

Mbale, Uganda – People living around Mount Elgon have been challenged to restore the green vegetative cover by planting trees that will help slow down the alarming climatic change that has led to catastrophes like landslides.

This call was made by Dr. Mary Gorret Kitutu, Minister of State for Water and Environment and an environmentalist in exclusive interviews with our reporter.

They explained that Mount Elgon is also a catchment area for water bodies around the region and also seen as Elgon climatic zone where rain formation for this region takes place.

“The situation is now beyond climate change to crisis level as seen by the signs of all climatic changes like prolonged droughts, heat waves and strange diseases attacking livestock among others. People in the region have to plant over a trillion trees but they must consult with environmentalists on which type of trees to plant.

Dr.Tenywa Livingstone a disaster management expert and also a lecturer at Bugema University says nature is auditing human activities and whatever we see about climate change is a sign to show that our activities in one way or the other has affected nature.

“The government should use cultural activities like ‘imbalu’ (male circumcision) in Bugisu that brings people together many people pass the message of transformation,” Dr. Tenywa advised.