In The Woodland

By Kaweesa James

The natural environment is important for our sustainable living. Water bodies provide habitats for thousands of spices of aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals. Actually, wetlands provide values that no other ecosystem can. Trees grips the soils firm preventing landslides. They not only provide food in ecosystem but also produce fresh air, absorb carbon and prevent global warming. Floods, storms, fires are associated with environment degradation. Surprising, conservation of environment can possibly prevent poverty and civil conflicts, and eventually prevent the collapse of societies. Unfortunately, the rate at which we are depleting the natural environment puts our lives, and indeed the beauty of our country, Uganda, on the firing line. Therefore, rising awareness on the most pressing environmental issues is more important than ever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kaweesa James
• Release date: Dec 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223490555

Book preview

In The Woodland

The natural environment is important for our sustainable living. However, the rate at which we are depleting it puts our lives, and indeed the beauty of our country, Uganda, on the firing line. Our posterity will blame our generation for this degree of irresponsibility. This is what the author wants to bring to the attention of all stakeholders such that we do something to save this woodland.

My Country

Seeing with a Patriot’s Eye and Rethinking to Recover.

Volume 3

THE ENVIRONMENT

In The Woodland

2023

FIRST EDITION

James Kaweesa

Published in 2023

All right reserved.

Copyright© 2023 by Kaweesa James Buyinza.

Cover art copyright© 2021 by Onasitu Group.

Onasitu Group is a designing, printing and advertising company. It also develops and manages system apps and websites.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means: electric, mechanical, photocopying, recording; or by any information storage and retrieval system or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright owner.

For information contact us on [phone]/ [phone]

[e-mail]

Or visit our website at www.kaweesajamesbuyinza.com

CONTENTS

FOREWORD……………………….................................iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.……...……….…................... v

PREFACE..…….....……………….………......................vi

THE MAP OF UGANDA:...……………………............vii

THE UGANDA NATIONAL ANTHEM..........………viii

THE MESOPOTAMIA LESSON….…………………......1

A MONIKER THAT IS UNFITTING.....……………...10

THE GULTY IS SET FREE…….…..................….........20

THE LAST LEAF IN THE FOREST........................….25

SHYNESS OF THE SUPERIORS.….............................40

VALUE UNDERRATED.……....……...…….………….49

NATURE’S FIGHT.……………………………….…….64

THE HONORABLE CRY..………...….........…………..90

FRUSTRATED EFFORTS...................……………….102

LEGALISED SUICIDE...…….............……............…125

EFFORTS WORTH A KING’S RANSOME...…….....145

THE LAST NOTE..…………………………..............152

NOTES.......................................................................156

REFERANCE...………………………………………..159

FOREWORD

This book is a quick pick on the beauty, magnificence, natural endowments and the enormous biodiversity in Uganda the Pearl of Africa that is threatened by anthropogenic activities and the seeming indifference from the would be custodians. This book gives a beautiful historical account of the flora and fauna strategically located across the country, the dwindling forest reserves, threatened wetland cover and the consequences that many Ugandans continue to suffer as a result of failing to make wise use of our natural resources.

The book is an advocacy tool in the face of a changing climate; to create awareness and exert pressure on the relevant authorities to curb the reckless exploitation of forest, wetland and water resources. In addition, advocacy must aim at checking the detrimental land use change practices and awakening the masses to action, since they are the victims of this catastrophic course of action. Cliamte change is a controversial topic and not all information is reliable, many articles are biased by political views and ideology. As a consequence of this misformation, the general public is confused and its views are quite different from those of climate scientists. This book gives policy-informed awareness; together with practical global examples of challenges that ancient and modern authorities meet in the battle against natural resource exploitation.

Chapter one gives a creationist perspective of where all this comes from and how particulary Mesopotamia is an appropriate lesson for the world today. Chapter two shows how Uganda is abundantly endowed with splendid nature, as witnessed by both citizens, historical colonial masters and others nations across the world. The other chapters, with intriguing subtitles, describe our heritage and how it is slowly vanishing under the nose of our trusted leaders, authorities and the primary stakeholders; the citizens of the country. The author gives statistical evidence of the continuimng biodiversity loss and some positive steps that have been taken to curb environmental pollution and over exploitation of natural resources. He goes ahead to examine land use changes and its effects on the weather, the micro climate of different regions; agricultural production, livehood and the economy of the country at large.

We also take a close look at some of the memorable events in Uganda’s environmental history from the perspective of a concerned citizen. We are also focusing on how our different catchments, across the different ecosystems, primary forest cover, wetlands, wildlife, water and acquatic resources have changed in quality and quantity over time. The language applied is simple and related to climate scientists in their call for collative action in this struggle to realise sustainable development. This book concludes with plain suggestions of what the author thinks should be done by the Government, the private sector, development partners and all other local and international stakeholders to devise mechanisms of  sustainable use of Uganda’s natural resources.

Ahimbisibwe Micheal

BSc. Environmnetal Sciences;

MSc. Renewable Energy;

PhD. Biosytem Engineering

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This book is dedicated to my beloved mother, Mrs. Justine Kigozi Buyinza, the Buyinza Family, the Pastor C. Kigozi Family, and the Pastor Balam Kirya Family for their moral support.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my editor, Mr. Lwanga Charles. I am equally grateful to Mrs. Maggie Wanyana, Mrs. Awori Mary Jacquiline, Dr. Ssekalegga James, Mr. Beyenza John, Dr. Kateregga Joshua, Mr. Lubega Patrick, Mr. Ayesiga Brian, Mr. Mutebi William, and Mr Saabwe Cephas for their technical and financial support.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge you, fellow countrymen, many of whose names will never appear on the list of our heroes and heroines, who have tried to portray the spirit of belonging to our country. Thus, I appreciate your efforts in making Uganda stand out of the crowd. I encourage you to uphold your integrity as you still have a chance to. You are, and will always be, my source of inspiration and a great blessing to our country. Above all, I thank GOD for using you.

Kaweesa James

PREFACE

What You Need To Know In This Book

This book is exact extraction of chapter two of my book ‘My Country: Seeing with a Patriot’s Eye and Rethinking to Recover’. It shows the extent to which inhabitants, save not leaders, have degraded the natural beauty of our country. It also gives suggestions; an imaginary picture of a better homeland. The main aim of this book is to awaken the need for stringent and sustainable conservation of Uganda’s natural environment and to encourage whoever is doing something good for this country not to give up. With the help of GOD to whom we commend our country in our National Anthem, we will strive and attain the Uganda we deeply desire.

Kaweesa James

THE MAP OF UGANDA

uganda-map-physical.jpg

THE UGANDA NATIONAL ANTHEM

1

Oh Uganda! May God uphold thee,

We lay our future in thy hand,

United, free,

For liberty,

Together we’ll always stand.

2

Oh Uganda! The land of freedom,

Our love and labour we give,

And with neighbors all,

At our country’s call,

In peace and friendship we’ll live.

3

Oh Uganda! The land that feeds us,

By sun and fertile soil grown,

For our own dear land,

We’ll always stand,

The Pearl of Africa’s Crown

THE MESOPOTAMIA LESSON

This planet was created beautiful. I think you too, can realise that it has undergone some disastrous changes. Water bodies and skies were not dangerous. Soils supported life and, beneath them, rocks anchored firm. Primates and all creation enjoyed the Earth. In fact, despite the chaos nature makes nowadays, we still delight in its existence. The wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. It is true there is so much terror seeping around every corner but there is also beauty and life - because it was created so that man; who came last of all created matter, could find life possible. Nature was meant to support life. Trees gripped the soils firm such that no land could be carried away  not even by heavy rainfalls. Floods were controlled, soil fertility was maintained and storms, fires and droughts were prevented. Wetlands provided habitat for thousands of spices of acquatic and terrestial plants and animals. Indeed, life was at its fullness. All this was long before our generation, but I believe it was so - because, scientifically, it has been proved that trees not only produce food in ecosystem but also produce fresh air, absorb carbon and prevent global warming; and that wetlands improve the quality of natural water, protect against floods, and control shoreline erosion. The environment was pure and pleasing to live in.

Archaeologists have evidence that small hunting and gathering, in many parts of the world, affected forests as man put them on fire to get rid of unwanted vegetation and to flush game. These fires often destroyed animal habitats.

After many years of constantly moving in search of food, some people, in a few isolated areas, learnt how to cultivate food crops and domesticate animals.  Farming enabled people to live in the same place for quite long. After planting, people got more time to focus on art, religion, and architecture. In the mean time, they built towns and cities.

At first, farming required more work than hunting and gathering. However, no matter what it was, agriculture had a big advantage; growing crops and raising animals on a limited area of land could sustain a large population, which made a group more powerful. Once people understood this, they began to construct permanent homes. This eventually led to cities and all the other things that define civilisation.

The first agricultural settlements of 50 to 100 people emerged primarily in hilly areas of Southwest Asia. Today, these areas make up Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Southern Turkey, and Western Iran. The climate there consisted of long dry summers and short rainy winters. The soil was naturally fertile, but thin. Many small farming villages flourished near the banks of the two great rivers; the Tigris and Euphrates. There, farmers cultivated grains like wheat and barley along with some vegatables. They domesticated mainly sheep and goats.

As more people settled in villages, they constructed houses and other buildings, often with wood. They also used wood as fuel for cooking, heating, and burning lime to make plaster. As the village