The African Institute for investigative journalism has launched a series of Investigative reports on climate change and environmental crimes in Uganda.
The stories launched at the Naguru Skyz hotel in Kampala were produced by 4 journalists from all across Uganda.
The stories
Veteran Environment journalist Gerald Tenywa presented his investigation titles “the dark trade of sand”
In the story, Tenywa makes shocking revelations of a cartel of sand miners disfiguring one of Uganda’s largest wetland; “Lwera” and leaving behind puddles of water which are similar to lakes after years of sand mining.
“local residents say that incidents of malaria have increased because the pedals of water have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes; in addition the water in trailer which use which is used to floor in a controlled way across Kampala ginger highways also putting pressure on Kampala masaka highway” Tenywa said adding that
“Who is doing these dark minings? They are the very powerful people in this country that eat on the same tables with law enforcers which has left mining open to abuse.”
The second story came from Joel Kaguta and it was titled “The erosion of copper tailings into river Nyamwamaba and kasese town”
Kaguta in his investigation revealed that when river Nyamwamba flooded in 2017 and 2020 the biggest copper tailing was eroded into river Nyamwamba.
He says that the river which empties directly into Lake George and Lake George connects to lake Edward through kazinga channel which in turn connects to river semliki which empties into lake Albert.
The eroded copper tailings which contain heavy metals find their way into these water bodies contaminating the water which residents use for domestic use causing diseases like peptic ulcers and cancer.
“3 in 10 people suffering from cancer in Uganda come from kasese” Kaguta said
“Independent geologists in Kasese town say the minerals have heavy materials which have an accumulation effect on the food chain of the aquatic flora and fauna hence the illnesses.” he added
The third story was by Gloria Atuhairwe about water pollution on lake Victoria;
Atuhairwe writes a story about Nkumba- Bukolwa, a Garbage dumping sit
e where medical and hazardous waste is dropped out in the open creating a health emergency for the residents living here and polluting Africa’s largest lake.
“On top of this being adjacent to the lake the medical mixes with the water for the community which is an environmental crime happening under the watch of the Entebbe town council.” Atuhaire said adding that
“If you give a close look at the water in lake Victoria it’s even changing color well due to excessive waste material it contains “
Okello Jesus Ojara – uncontrolled charcoal burning in Acholi region
Okello Jesus Ojara produced an investigation into the uncontrolled charcoal burning in Acholi region which has jeopardized research in herbal medicine.
“More than 60% of Uganda’s population depends on traditional Medicine because it is accessible, affordable and culturally familiar.” Ojara said
AIIJ deputy Executive Director Raymond Mujuni thanked all individuals for being vigilant and standing with them on this good cause of fighting climate change and environmental crime through journalism.
“This is very important work for the future of Uganda and we thank all the organizations who are supporting us along this Journey” he said.
Investigative Journalist Solomon Serwanjja who is also the Executive Director of the African institute for investigative journalism said reaching these 4 investigations has been a journey that they have walked with the journalists including training them and mentoring them as they carried out their investigations
“We trained 35 journalists; we gave five grants to do investigations in public interest. Today we are launching the investigations. We believe that these stories will go beyond airwaves and print media that they will be published on.” he said
Barbara Kalumba, the project leader revealed that they have now created a curriculum for training journalists on investigating environmental crimes and climate change something that will grow the number of journalists willing and able to write about the environment.
“Stories about environmental crimes never run on the front page, we want to see them run on the front page for public awareness because some people are actually not aware of the environmental crimes that happened around them” Kalumba said
Following the launch, a panel of experts and environmentalists discussed the matters the journalists had raised in their investigations.
“institutions that are expected to protect the environment are participants in environmental crimes.” said conservationist William Leslie Amanzuru, lashing out at government institutions for not doing enough to protect the environment.
“Environmental Crimes are done by the most powerful in the country, the ones that are well connected. We seem to be having weak laws that are easily abused by the most powerful” he added.
Dr Daniel Dumba, a climate change expert from Makerere Univeristy dispelled myths around climate change;
“Is climate change real? Yes climate change is real for example a perspective of the stories here especially that of “copper” for grandma to understand and appreciate climate change address the outcomes / the indicators. Climate change is real and hidden in time to say 30 years and more” he said
The panel also had senior journalists Tabu Butagira, the managing editor of Nation Media Group And Solomon Sserwanja.
What they said;
