Uganda Commemorates World Wetlands Day In Gulu District

 Uganda is  joining the rest of the world to celebrate
World Wetlands Day, denoting the date of the selection of the
Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971.

 The theme for this year 2024 world wetland day is “Wetlands and Human well-being”. This theme underscores the critical need for human stewardship of the world’s wetlands.

Water and Environment minister Hon Samuel Cheptoris told spyreports that the celebrations are being held at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu City.

''The relevance of this year’s theme has been well elucidated in the third 
National Development Plan for Uganda under the theme: ‘sustainable industrialization for inclusive growth, employment and wealth creation.’ Uganda aspires to become an upper middle-income country and, to achieve this, it’s` per capita wealth must 
increase significantly''. Minister Cheptoris noted.

He has however urged Ugandans to join the national efforts to conserve and sustainably manage 
wetlands; and take part in wetland restoration efforts locally.

Statistics indicate that, the decline recorded between 1994 and 2015, were 6,146.6 sq.km of wetlands was lost making 2.5% of Uganda’s total coverage of wetlands. This 
caused concern and drastic measures had to be undertaken to avert 
further decline.

The Government of Uganda has made timely concerted 
effort over the last 30 years at various national levels to ensure the 
conservation and wise use of wetland resource.