By Agency
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Friday launched the National Patriotism Environmental Protection campaign at Kitebi Secondary School- Rubaga Division, Kampala.
During the launch, President Museveni said he was happy with the campaign since it aims at conserving the environment.
“People who go into wetlands, on lakeshores, on river banks, are really enemies of the country,” he explained.
“I’m glad that you are coming out and you are coming out strongly to chase people who are in the wetlands. We told them to leave the wetlands. The ones in Bukedi, Kigezi and Busoga were misled by the British, but the others have no reason why they encroached on the wetlands. But even the ones in Bukedi, Busoga and Kigezi we shall compensate them to get out of the natural resources,” the President urged.
The President also underscored the role of patriotism in promoting prosperity.
“The politics of interest is more crucial, that is why we said you people don’t get lost. Yes, you are a Munyankore, Muganda Mucholi but you should love Uganda. Why love Uganda? Because you need it for your prosperity. Uganda is going to help you prosper more than your tribe. That is why we came up with principle number one of the NRM which is patriotism,” said President Museveni who is the national patron for Patriotism in the country.
“When Uganda stabilised and we started producing more, we found out that the internal market of Uganda is not enough, so we need the regional market. That is why we came up with principle number two, Pan- Africanism; love Africa to become prosperous. But in order to benefit from all this, you must undergo socio-economic transformation by working for both the stomach and the pocket with “ekibaro” and achieving education,” he added.
President Museveni on the other hand, reiterated his call to government schools to stop charging fees from learners.
The Commissioner for Patriotism in the Office of the President, Ms. Hellen Seku informed the President that they have embarked on the launch of the environmental protection campaign with a determination to defend the nation’s future.
“Our mandate for this campaign is supported by objective 27 of the National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policies under the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995 as amended and backed by article 245 of the same constitution as amended. The article states that all the natural resources of Uganda shall be managed in such a way as to meet development and environmental needs of present and future generations of Uganda and in particular the state shall take all possible measures to prevent or minimise the damage and destruction to land, air and water resources resulting from pollution and other causes,” Ms. Seku said.
The Commissioner also noted that they have already put in place a roadmap to rollout the campaign throughout the 18 zones of the country.
