By Chris Mugasha
Rubirizi district has been selected to host this year’s World Wetlands day. According to the district leaders, the function is slated to take place on 2nd February 2025 at Katerera play grounds in Katerera town council.
The Rubirizi district Chief Administrative Officer Edward Kasagara said President Yoweri Museveni is expected to preside over the celebrations. Among the activities of the day will include grand exhibitions, key note speeches, field excursions, dialogues and debates, school engagements and awarding of wetlands conservation champions among others.
The Rubirizi district chairman Agubashongoreire Sylvester said among the reasons why Rubirizi was selected is because of its efforts in restoring wetlands and conserving the natural resources/environment.
He said they have managed to convince and sensitize people who had encroached on the wetlands and have since vacated the wetlands paving way for restoration.
The chairman hailed President Yoweri Museveni for coming out strongly to guide on the issue of vacating wetlands.
Rubirizi is one of the districts that is surrounded by the protected areas which include; Queen Elizabeth National park, Imaramagambo forest and Katsyoha-Kitomi forest. The district also boasts of over 30 crater lakes.
Agubashongoreire said much as the district is endowed with the above natural resources, the district is facing the challenge of lack of land where people can practice agriculture to get food.
He said the biggest challenge that the district is battling with is the issue of population that is on high rate of increase when there is no land to sustain the population.
Kasagara also disclosed that the president will commission the block which houses the district head quarters offices. End.
