A letter requesting the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to Increase investment in green economics as an alternative to oil and gas development
By Kato Paul
First and foremost I thank you and your staff for the good work you are doing to co-ordinate development planning, mobilization of public resources; and ensuring effective accountability for the use of such resources for the benefit of all Ugandans. It is my pleasure to request you to allocate huge investments of the green economics and renewable energy in the National budget of his financial year 2022/2023.
This will help restore back the environment, create huge employment to un employed youth ,contribute to Uganda’s GDP and reduce on the pressure imposed on the forest cover across the country and others. The sectors include: Agriculture sector, Tourism, Renewable energy and Forestry sector and other.
The main objective of this letter is to bring to your attention Uganda’s economic potential for green economic investments which is a clear path to inclusive and sustainable development.
Hon Minister Kasaija there is limited effort by government to invest in the green economic sectors and renewable energy sector with all their potentials to propel the country to attaining inclusive and sustainable development. Some parts of the country is already grappling with serious negative impacts of climate change for instance about 50 districts across the country are being attacked by the Army worm destroying their crops, others districts are also facing the flooding’s , un predictable weather conditions, landslides and others environmental risks resulting from biodiversity losses and water scarcity, high temperature, yet government is currently investing huge money into the oil and gas sector which has the potential to worsen the already worsening climate change effects.
The Albertine rift valley where the oil and gas activities are taking place, is a highly Eco sensitive area with 7 out of 15 of Uganda’s national parks, 8 protected forest reserves and several of African birds and reptile species which attract the biggest number of tourists in the country.
As an Individual I request your ministry of Finance; Planning and Economic Development allocate enough funds in the green economic sector in this National Financial Year Budget of 2022/23 in order to create a clear path to inclusive and sustainable development. These are discussed below.
Agricuture sector which is a back bone of Uganda, contributes 23.1 % of Uganda’s GDP, and 70% of the country’s employment, Tourism which will contribute 7.7% of the GDP, create 667600 employment than oil and gas sector will contribute to 160,000 employment to Ugandans, Forestry which will create jobs to Ugandans, help to promote environmental conservation and others, and renewable energy sector which will also help to reduce the pressure imposed on the forests for firewood used for cooking and heating among others.
Therefore, the Minister of the finance, planning and economic development needs to allocate sums on the green economics and renewable energy sectors in order to achieve the inclusive and sustainable development in the country.
Kato Paul –Research Associate at Africa Institute for energy Governance.(AFIEGO)
Katop.adyeeri@gmail.com
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