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President urges Delegates at the International Water Congress to address Clean Water Sustainability.
Posted
on 2010-03-22
President Yoweri Museveni called on the delegates at the 15th, International African Water and Sanitation Congress and Exhibition not only to discuss clean water and sanitation but also to include its sustainability and availability on the continent. “Don’t confine yourselves to safe water and sanitation. The bigger problem is: do you have sustainably enough water to clean?” he asked.
The President was opening the 15th International African Water and Sanitation Congress and Exhibition at the Commonwealth Resort in Munyonyo. The 3-day congress that was running under the theme “Water and Sanitation; Perspective and Challenges Relating to Energy and Climate Change” and had drawn over 1,300 participants from 64 countries world wide.
President Museveni also expressed the need to conserve wetlands saying that they contribute to the rain in most parts of the Great Lakes’ Region. “Swamps in Uganda and the neighbouring countries contribute significantly to the rain in this area. If you interfere with the wetlands, there will be little rain,” he cautioned.
President Museveni also called for the protection of forest reserves and explained to the Congress that in Uganda, government decided to upgrade the forest reserve on Mount Elgon and that of Rwenzori to national parks because they were being severely deforested.
“The forest officials were cutting trees and calling it sustainable harvesting. So we upgraded the two forest reserves to national parks so that nobody goes there. Whoever wants goes must be as a tourist but not to cut trees,” he said.
The President further urged participants to explore the possibility of harnessing ocean water for both human and animal consumption. ‘You should think of desalination of ocean water for both human and animal consumption. The technology might be expensive but it is worth exploring that possibility in order to have enough water,” he said. The President advised the congress to look into the energy aspect saying water bodies in Africa have a potential of 300,000 megawatts of hydro electricity.
The President later launched a book authored by the Managing Director of National Water and Sewerage Corporation, Dr. William Muhairwe, on how he turned the Corporation into a vibrant successful private enterprise. Mr. Museveni described Dr. Muhairwe as a selfless person who works for a common good. The President also congratulated National Water and Sewerage Corporation for the work well done.
The Minister of Water and Environment, Ms. Maria Mutagamba, thanked the President for the conducive environment that has enabled the International Congress to be held in Uganda.
The President of the African Water Association (AFWA), Mr. Mamadou Dia, described the meeting as historic as it marked the merger of African Association with the International Water Association with the aim of having one global voice on water. He also praised President Museveni for the importance he has attached to the water sector and wished that the Presidents’ example be followed across Africa.
Other speakers included the Director of Energy, Transport and Water at the World Bank, Dr. Jamal Saghir, the United Nations Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation Dr. Ushi Eid, the Executive Director of the United Nations Habitat, Dr. Ana Tibaijuka and the 2004 Nobel Prize winner Professor Wangari Mathai emphasized the need to harvest rain water.
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