WetNews

Monthly publication -NOv. 2020

Mitooma Wetland users smile after the Government intervenes to enhance their livelihoods

Milton Mkirinabo inspects one of the piglets at his farm

"...continuous sensitisation and awareness, Mkirinabo slowly began to understand the premise for government plans to restore wetlands.."

When Mr. Milton Mkirinabo a resident of Nshenga A, Mitooma Town Council, Mitooma district received information from government urging him and other community members using Nyamuhizi Kagogo wetland to leave the wetland, his immediate response was at first not positive.
The call didn’t make sense to him because he was being asked to abandon his major source of income from which he was paying fees and providing basic needs for his household. However, with continuous sensitisation and awareness, Mkirinabo slowly began to understand the premise for government plans to restore wetlands that had severely been degraded, and could no longer provide the different functions and products as they had done in the past.

The need to restore these functions and products was based on the background that the affected wetlands would be able to continue providing them, water would be brought nearer to the farmers who had voluntarily left through year round farming activities; with the objective of providing alternative livelihoods. Furthermore, in addition to community resilience to climate change impacts, the wetlands would also be able to avert climate change impacts as restored ecosystems.
Once he understood Government intention to provide alternative livelihoods to wetland users (who voluntarily left the wetlands), he and other community members voluntarily left. Working with Environmental Alert (EA), under the Building Resilient Communities, Wetland Ecosystem and Associated Catchment Areas in Uganda project government asked wetland users in Mitooma to form groups and select alternative livelihoods that could provide them better incomes.... Next pg

Former Wetland Users embrace tangible alternative livelihoods as government moves to save Wetlands

Mkirinabo together with colleagues formed Nshenga Abateganda Group consisting of 48 members (18 women, 19 men, 7 youth, and 4 elders). They selected piggery as an alternative livelihood. EA provided the group with two female piglets. Group members requested Mkirinabo to become the host farmer. His role was ensuring the two piglets multiply and each member benefits.
Within a period of three years, Mkirinabo worked hard to ensure 48 members of Nshenga group each receives one piglet. “It was a daunting task but by the grace of God, I have managed to fulfil my role and at least all members are happy,” Mkirinabo said during a recent visit to his farm. His family and surrounding community share the same delight. The happiness is visible on their faces.

After sharing out to members, Mkirinabo retained the initial two female pigs that have since continued to multiply. He now has upto 30 pigs at his farm (8 young ones and 22 piglets) bringing current total financial benefit to approximately shs 20m. According to Mkirinabo, a piglet in Mitooma goes for shs 150,000 while the mature one costs shs 2m.
At this stage, Mkirinabo hopes to expand his firm to over 100 pigs in order to increase his fortunes. To him, government decision to ask them leave wetlands was the best thing that ever happened to him. Mkirinabo now boosts of his ability to pay fees for his children as well as an improve standard of living.
cont. ..Next page..

A piggery initiative that saved Mitooma's wetlands

“This initiative has helped me to educate my children. Three of whom have completed University. One is in the final year. Two are completing secondary education. I really thank government of Uganda together with its Development Partners (GCF and UNDP) for showing us the right path to success,” he said. His daughter, Mackline Akatukunda says the family can now afford a balanced diet unlike before.
Mkirinabo’s success level has triggered interest in the community to an extent that the majority of the wetland users are now demanding to be supported with similar interventions. During the recent monitoring visits, community members could be seen constructing shelters to house the piglets, they are expecting from government. At the neighbouring community in Lwagashani village, in Katenga Sub County, is Siima Community Driven Development Initiative (SCODDI) consisting of 32 members (22 women, 10 men).

Like Nshenga Group, SCODDI was established with help of EA under the government initiative to restore Nyamuhizi wetland. The group received two piglets with Edreda Tuwangye being the host farmer. According to Tuwangye, all members have received their share and the majority have multiplied or are still at maturing stages.
The Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) in partnership with Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) is implementing the eight-year- Building Resilient Communities, Wetland Ecosystems and Associated Catchments in Uganda project. The Government of Uganda (GoU), Green Climate Fund (GCF) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) fund the initiative that aims at restoring wetlands and increase resilience of ecosystems and communities living around the wetlands.

Copyright © 2020 GCFwetland restoration project, All rights reserved.
Ministry of Water and Environment

Our mailing address is:
Plot 21/28 Portbell Road, Luzira,
P.O Box 20026, Kampala, Uganda
Tel 256 414 505942
www.mwe.go.ug
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Building Resilient Communities, Wetland Ecosystems and Associated Catchments project in Uganda · Luzira, Kampala · Kampala · Uganda