The Prime Minister Hon. Robinah Nabbanja has directed Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, and his Water and Environment counterpart Sam Cheptoris to quickly prepare a Cabinet Paper on the banning of rice growing in wetlands.
Nabbanja on February 8, the joint letter told his colleagues to ensure that her Office receives the paper not later than, Tuesday, 22nd February 2022.
“As you must have been aware, H.E the President is concerned about the rate at which many wetlands across the country are drying-out because of rice growing amongst other bad human activities,” she said
Nabanja said this is not only affecting the ecosystems in our country but, also presents a real danger to our very own future survivals collectively.
She said that the president has directed that rice growing in wetlands must stop forthwith, and alternative livelihoods for those wetland rice-growers are provided by the Government.
“The views of H.E the President are that the use of our wetlands for fish farming, for instance, will fetch the country a lot more money while conserving the environment compared to rice growing,”
Museveni, according to Nabanja also thinks that rice is a low-value crop that can be grown anywhere.
“The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to direct your Ministries, working together, to urgently prepare a Cabinet paper to facilitate discussions and decisions of Government on this matter,“
“By copy of this letter, the Executive Directors, National Planning Authority; and National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) are directed to provide all the necessary technical inputs required for this paper,” she added
