UGANDA: Bishop of Fort Portal Expresses Concern on Global Warming

Peter Masereka
The ordinary of Fort Portal Catholic Diocese Rt. Rev Bishop Robert Muhiirwa Akiiki, has cautioned the general public about global warming.

In his speech to hundreds of congregants gathered at Yerya Parish on Sunday, to witness the priestly and diaconate ordination of four priests and six deacons, Bishop Muhiirwa appreciated the government of Uganda for the efforts invested in conserving the environment and urged the public to watch out for the natural living and non-living among them.

Bishop Muhiirwa revealed that the floods happening in Mbale and Bududa, and the long-term drought in Karamoja, could as well be faced in Fort Portal, unless people take action.
He attributed the global warming to human behaviour that is contributing to environmental degradation, including the farming practices in swamps.

The Bishop appealed to the public to plant more trees and restore nature to absorb more carbon to protect forests and plant as many trees as possible.

The Fort Portal’s Ordinary who also recently represented Uganda Episcopal conference at the 20th plenary assembly of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA) in Dar-es-Salaam, noted that conservation of Mother Earth was the lead talk at the plenary meeting.

The statement released by AMECEA wraps up the body’s 20th Plenary Assembly message from from the deliberations of the Catholic bishops which took place from July 9-18. The statement undersigned by the eight member Conference and its affiliate member Djibouti and Somalia highlights the effects of climate change and commits the Bishops to work for integral ecology, in reference to the teachings of Laudato si’.

Bishop Muhiirwa promised that Fort Portal diocese will continue enlightening the general public about conserving the environment, through CARITAS Fort Portal in ensuring climate stability like before.

Meanwhile, Hon. Peace Regis Mutuuzo, Woman Mp Bunyangabu, doubling as the Minister of State for gender and Cultural affairs, has warned Ugandans on constructing and planting Eucalyptus trees in swamps. Much as she recognizes the importance of the trees, Hon. Mutuuzo advises that they be planted in the right places like hills.

Meanwhile, Uganda has had mostly a tropical climate characterized by stable rainfall patterns. However, the effects of climate change have turned the seasons around, with the country experiencing shorter or longer rains and harsher droughts – especially in the eastern and north-eastern Uganda.