By: Ismael Kasooha  

DUBAI

President Yoweri Museveni has asked developed countries to stop the pollution of the environment and adapt clean energy to address climate challenges.

The President’s message is contained in remarks delivered for him by the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja during the ongoing world governments summit in the United Arab Emirates in the city of Dubai.

The Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja arriving at the Dubai world trade center for the coffee exhibition

Nabbanja, while responding to questions raised during the World Governments Summit on Uganda’s strategies to promote sustainability and green economy, said Uganda has come up with initiatives to address global environmental challenges.

President Museveni emphasized that big contributors of greenhouse gas emissions should stop and adapt to clean energy measures.

“There are two clusters of factors causing damage to the climate of the globe. These start with the generation of un-natural levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This is a result of burning fossil fuels excessively, land use change, industrial processes, biomass burning and agriculture methane. Global warming has meant melting of snow sheets that have been capturing water in some parts of the globe which has led to increased sea levels threatening islands and coastal zones,” noted Museveni.

The Premier tasting Ugandan Coffee in Dubai during the coffee exhibition at the World Trade center at the Ugandan stall

He expressed concern that deforestation due to industrial development and Population pressure has also removed trees that have been capturing carbon dioxide from the air.

“The answer is for the big contributors to stop and switch to clean energy. Otherwise, there’s great danger to humanity. At the local and regional level, the people have invaded wetlands and forests affecting evaporation and rainfall,” the statement read in part.

The President said that as part of promoting sustainability and green economy, the Government of Uganda was undertaking the preservation of the existing forests and afforestation, protection of wetlands by stopping growing of swamp rice and cattle rearing and use of climate smart technology for farming in addition to reducing use of coal and fossil fuels.

“We are providing alternative sources of livelihood for communities that were relying on wetlands, promoting the use of gas and electricity and increased power generation from 2,052 MW to 52,000 MW by the year 2040. This will be done in a phased manner through the energy mix policy: hydro power, solar energy, nuclear energy among others,” he said.

The President however noted that all the above would be achieved by ensuring peace and security of persons and property.

Some of the investors who have expressed interest to add value on Ugandan coffee talking to the Prime minister Robinah Nabbanja at the coffee exhibition in Dubai

Nabbanja briefed world leaders that Uganda has put in place policies to enhance socio-economic transformation of the country.

“Uganda is on an ambitious journey of social economic transformation guided by Vision 2040 implemented through five-year National Development Plans, now in the fourth Cycle. Government is focusing on the Ten Fold Growth Strategy, of growing the economy from US$50 billion in Financial Year 2022/23 to US$500billion by 2040. The emphasis is on Agro Industrial Development, Tourism Development, Minerals-based development plus oil and gas, Science, Technology, ICT and Innovation (the knowledge economy),” the speech read in part.

He noted that Agro-based industries, extractive-based manufacturing industries and knowledge-intensive industries, Science, Technology, ICT and Innovation are the catalyst for value addition in the other factors.

“Increasing productivity in sub-sectors of the above sectors three-fold in the next fifteen years has the potential to generate about 2.5 percentage points of GDP annually,” he said.

At the heart of this journey is a recognition that human capital development across the development agenda is critical.

“Our youth are our greatest asset, and with over 75% of our population below the age of 30. This is therefore, why we are integrating creativity, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship into national development to ensure sustainable economic growth and social cohesion,” he said.

The Premier also witnessed the signing of an MoU Between the Government of Uganda and the Digital School regarding collaboration in digital learning in Ugandan schools.  Henry Okello Oryem signed on behalf of the Ugandan government.

The Prime Minister later in the day inspected the Coffee exhibition at the World Trade center in Dubai where Ugandan coffee was exhibited.

Nabbanja said that Uganda’s coffee was the best but only required aggressive promotion and blending to be competitive globally.

The Prime Minister was flanked by the Ministers for Public Service, Muruli Mukasa, General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, Kasule Lumumba, Minister State for Environment Beatrice Anywar, Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Aber Lillian and Uganda’s Ambassador to UAE, Zaake Kibedi.

The Summit is running under the theme “Shaping Future governments” and several governments have committed to support each other to develop.

End