A Parliamentary Committee on Climate Change has officially
been inaugurated, with Chairperson, Hon Lawrence Biyika Songa, saying there will
be no compromise on environment protection.
At a news conference on Wednesday, 14 August 2019, the Committee, which was
formed in May following an amendment to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, set
out its roles to the country.
“We assure Ugandans that this Committee will, on their behalf, and without fear
or favour, treat the matter of climate change as a national emergency and
therefore, employ a strict code of operation that will ensure and enforce
compliance with guidelines by all stakeholders and citizens,” said MP Biyika.
Biyika set out by voicing opposition to the proposed giveaway of Bugoma and
Zoka forest reserves to an investor, who plans to grow sugarcane.
“We shall work hand in hand with other committees…to conserve our environment;
Bugoma is one of our natural resources and we shall within our means, do our
best, to save that forest and many others like Zoka,” said Biyika.
Parliament created the Committee on Climate Change, and spelt out its functions
in the new rule 182A.
“The Committee on Climate Change shall provide oversight on the responsiveness
of Government to matters of climate change, its mitigation and adaptation,”
reads rule 182A (1).
Other functions of the Committee include the scrutiny of all Bills presented
before Parliament in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation;
coordinate parliamentary activities related to climate change and make
recommendations to Parliament on matters relating to climate change among
others.
MP Isaac Mulindwa Ssozi (NRM, Lugazi Municipality), who is a member of the
Committee, said the issue of land use, especially as it relates to sand mining
and related activities will be of interest to the Committee.
“The laws relating to mining did not gazette sand as a mineral but we will have
to look at the laws especially in light of environmental impact assessment on
the sand mining activities,” he said.
Hon Mbwatekamwa Gaffa, also a member of the Committee, said there is need to
step up efforts to fight charcoal trade, but said government should start by
lowering the price of electricity to make its use attractive.
“All of us here, including Members of Parliament, use charcoal. If we cannot
use electricity for cooking, how about the ordinary Ugandan?” he said.
Mbwatekamwa also dismissed claims that the influx of refugees explains Uganda’s
depleting forest cover.
He said the responsibility to work to restore the environment is for everybody.
Parliamentary Committee On Climate Change Launched
