Other Publications

What you need to know:

Notably, many wetlands in Uganda have been encroached on for human activities and industrialisation but there seems no response from the authorities. This can be explained by the continued destruction of wetlands to grow rice.

In July, Cabinet through the minister of State for Environment, Ms Beatrice Anywar, banned the growing of all crops in wetlands across the country.

However, people have continued practising farming in wetlands with growing rice and animal rearing which is putting the environment at stake and leading to the climate change crisis we are experiencing today.

Notably, many wetlands in Uganda have been encroached on for human activities and industrialisation but there seems no response from the authorities. This can be explained by the continued destruction of wetlands to grow rice.Read more

What you need to know:

In the presence of surplus electricity, Ugandans continue to suffer rampant load shedding which has affected their livelihoods

For more than 16 years, Uganda has paid Shs1.4 trillion to 13 power generation firms for electricity that was not evacuated (deemed power).

For the financial year that ended June 30, 2021, the government spent up to Shs87.7b in paying deemed energy costs in regards to 13 power purchase agreements (PPAs), according to the auditor General. This is a very huge loss the country is making by spending such amounts of money on the product that is not utilised. Read more

What you need to know:

Surrounding communities and leaders at different levels should stop the ills being going on at River Rwizi to save the country from environmental degradation.

River Rwizi is located in Ankole Sub-region, western Uganda. River Rwizi, which covers approximately 8,200km, is the source of water for livelihood to both people and animals in Rakai, Lyantonde, Isingiro, Lwengo, Kiruhura, Mbarara, Bushenyi, Buhweju, Sheema and Rubirizi. Read more

15/09/2022

Mr. Gerald Barekye is a farmer, researcher and youth mobilizer in Uganda. After completing his studies, he started a youth-led policy advocacy organization, the Centre for Environmental Research and Agriculture innovations (CERAI), to organize and push the agenda for sustainability in agriculture and life while working as research associate at the African Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO). He also engages various stakeholders by informing, sensitizing and organizing them for the critical agenda in the fields of environment, energy, agriculture, development and peace.

Thank you for your time today. Can you please introduce yourself and tell us about what you’re doing?

Thank you, I’m happy to be here. My name is Gerald Barekye, born in a peasant family in western part of Uganda. I graduated from Makerere University in Uganda with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural and Rural Innovation in 2021, and currently I work as a research associate at AFIEGO.

Agriculture and environmental work have been my focus in the past years. I started to engage in these areaa both at a personal and organization level while I was attending university. I also had an experience as agriculture field extension worker with the Wakiso District Farmers Association (WADFA) where I did my internship in the second year of my university. Specifically, I dealt with local schools and youth farmers, sensitizing them to environment conservation and protection measures. Readmore