Members of Parliament have criticized the State Minister for Water and Environment Beatrice Atim Anywar for losing her passion in the fight against environmental degradation.
The criticism came after a heated debate during the plenary sitting following the report of the Committee on Climate Change that related to a motion for a resolution of Parliament urging the Government to address climate change in the country.
It is remembered that in April 2007, Anywar, the then Kitgum District Woman MP under the opposition Forum for Democratic Change - FDC planned a protest against President Yoweri Museveni’s giveaway of 7,100 hectares of 300 square kilometers of Mabira Forest in present-day Buikwe District to Mehta Group of Companies for expansion of sugarcane plantation.
The protest by Anywar, alongside then Makindye West Member of Parliament Hussein Kyanjo resulted in the death of three people when the crusaders clashed with law enforcement officers. Consequently, the two MPs were arrested.
Anywar’s firm resolve in fighting against environmental injustice earned her the nickname, “Mama Mabira. She was also among the eight Ugandan women who were recognized by the USA Mission in Uganda as women of courage in various fields namely; media, health, peace and security, justice, education, economic empowerment, and environment.
However, Anywar later defected to the National Resistance Movement-NRM party before her appointment as State Minister for Environment.
Now, Gorreti Namugga, the Mawogola County Member of Parliament in Ssembabule District has accused Anywar of sleeping on her job while the country loses forests and wetlands under the watch of her Ministry.
The Butambala County Member of Parliament Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi also criticized Anywar for failing to carry on with her credentials which she developed while in the opposition for fighting the rampant environmental injustices.
Anywar on the other hand blamed the rampant level of environmental degradation on corruption, adding that last month, Cabinet passed a 10-year environment restoration program such as evacuating people who have settled on wetlands, cancellation of land titles in wetlands, and agro-forestry among others.
In the report, Jacinta Atuto, the Vice Chairperson of the Committee, who doubles as the Kapelebyong District Woman MP explained that the escalating vice of encroachment on wetlands both in the urban and rural areas is a threat to wetland ecosystems in the country.
The committee noted that the improper use of wetlands has resulted in an increase in the release of methane, and lowered the water table which affects the soil capacity to drain excess rainwater hence resulting in climatic modifications in areas of drained wetlands, increased floods as well as intensified the spread of waterborne related diseases.
The Minister told MPs that efforts were underway to protect the wetlands across the country including demarcation of over 168.5km of wetland boundaries, restoration of 10,263.4 hectares, and maintenance of over 20,505 hectares as wetland reserves for community livelihood options under the "Building Community Resilient and wetland Ecosystem project".
