Sensitise the locals about disasters

3 October 2025, 2:33 pm

By Joel Kaguta

Protecting land is essential for ensuring the healthy growth and high-quality production of plants. Healthy soil and a clean environment provide the necessary nutrients, water, and conditions that plants need to thrive. When land is well-preserved, it maintains its fertility, supports biodiversity, and prevents soil erosion and pollution. This not only leads to better crop yields but also promotes sustainable agriculture, which is crucial for feeding growing populations and preserving the environment for future generations. Therefore, safeguarding our land is fundamental to achieving good plant produce and maintaining ecological balance.

Mr Isaya Baluku Katya, the Executive Director of Young Agro Green Africa Network (YAGANET), has urged local residents living on the slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains to embrace terracing as a viable means of controlling destructive runoff during the rainy season.

During a half-day disaster advocacy meeting at Kasese District Headquarters for civil society organisations, funded by Oxfam, Mr Baluku partly attributed land degradation and mudslides in the region to human activities, including the failure of locals to mulch and construct terraces, which leads to the loss of fertile soils and crops.

Mr Mustafa Kikusa, the Principal Assistant Secretary to the Kasese District Chief Administrative Officer, who also serves as Chairperson of the Kasese District Disaster Management Committee, called for the revival and practical interventions by sub-county environmental committees for the benefit of the community.

Ms Jovia Kabugho, Executive Director of Alliance for Children and Youth–Uganda, the organiser of the gathering, had earlier emphasised the need to sensitise locals about the importance of water harvesting during the wet season.