building in wetlands in Wakiso district (Daily Monitor)

Wakiso District Environment Office has pledged to increase its efforts in campaigning for restoration of wetlands in the district.

Though the office of the environment in Wakiso district has empowered the local communities in the districts with knowledge and awareness particularly on the ecological roles of wetlands, urban communities have not heeded to the call for wetland restoration.

The office has said in a press statement that as result the district will scale up its sensitization efforts in this regard such that it can influence a positive shift of attitude towards wetland eco systems in the urban communities.

Wakiso being a peri- urban district is one of the many districts in Uganda that  has suffered from severe wetland degradation which is catalyzed by the high population growth rate and rapid urbanisation in the district.

In Uganda 7% of the original wetland area in Uganda have been converted to other uses resulting in loss of bio diversity according to the State of the Environment Report of the National Environmental Management Authority 2008.