By KT Reporter
The Ministry of Water and Environment has announced a comprehensive plan to protect the Pager River wetlands from encroachment.
The initiative aims to restore the river’s ecosystem and promote sustainable livelihoods for communities living along the river. The Pager River, which flows through Kitgum District, has been facing severe environmental degradation in recent years.
It has been transformed into a dumping ground for garbage and waste. Vegetable farmers have encroached upon the river’s banks, clearing the natural vegetation and destroying the river’s ecosystem. The encroachment has not only destroyed the river’s ecosystem but has also led to soil erosion, flooding, and decreased water quality.
Residents living near the river have long suffered from water flooding of their homes during the wet season. However, with the announced initiative, flooding will likely become a thing of the past.
Florence Adokorac, a resident of Westland Cell in Kitgum Municipality, welcomed the initiative, saying it would bring relief to residents who have long suffered from flooding. “For long, residents living near Pager River have always experienced water flooding of their homestead during the wet season, but with the announced initiative, flooding will most likely be history,” Oryem said.
Amos Oboma, a local environmental activist, expressed his gratitude for the project. He said that as an activist, he has been advising people not to dispose of garbage along the riverbank or in the river, but his efforts have largely been ignored. “This has made the water polluted, and we are happy that the government has finally taken action to address the issue,” Oryem said.
He added that the initiative will help restore the natural beauty of the riverbank.
However, not everyone is optimistic about the initiative. Hamza Ssemakula, a tomato farmer along the Pager River bank, expressed concerns about the impact of the initiative on farmers. “I am worried that the initiative, especially the construction of fish ponds to replace farming along the bank, won’t yield any fruitful outcome given the numbers of farmers currently carrying out vegetable farming along the bank,” Ssemakula said.
As part of the initiative, the government will undertake the desilting of the river and provide fish ponds to engage communities that previously farmed along the riverbanks. The initiative is expected to provide alternative livelihoods for these communities while also protecting the wetlands from further degradation.
The State Minister for Water and Environment, Beatrice Atim Anywar, emphasized that the government is committed to working with local communities to ensure the success of the initiative-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
