By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Ugandan government on Tuesday declared a decade of environmental restoration after several studies showed that the environment and national resources were being destroyed at a worrying rate.
Ministry of water and environment in a statement issued here said the decision to declare the decision was reached by the cabinet which sat on Monday.
The ministry announced several measures in efforts to restore the environment. Construction of industries in wetlands has been banned until further notice and all industries have been directed to comply with the standards and regulations regarding the discharge of effluent, air emissions and waste management.
The statement said all encroachers on wetlands, forest reserves, lakeshores, and riverbanks are directed to voluntarily leave or be evicted. All land titles illegally issued in wetlands and forest reserves must be cancelled.
Production, importation and use of polythene carrier bags in the country is banned, according to the statement.
The ministry said the environment and natural resources sub-sector in the country has registered a decline over the past close to 30 years, with wetlands and forests having sharply shrunk, Bignews Network reports.