PRESS STATEMENT ON KAVERA BAN (POLYTHENE BAGS): As you may recall, NEMA on 15th April 2015 banned the use of polythene bags commonly known as Kavera. This decision was arrived at based on the dangers associated with it on environment and all its habitats. These among others include the following;
As NAPE joins the rest of the world to celebrate the world environmental day whose theme is ‘Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care‘. We are going to sue business entities that have deliberately refused to comply with the ban on Kavera, which was effected on 15th April 2015 by National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA). Seven billion dreams can only be realized if the planetary resources are managed/consumed/ planned for rationally to meet the needs of the current generation without comprising the ability of the future generation to meet theirs.
Read more: NAPE to sue business Entities not complying with the Kavera ban
Government of Uganda with approval of parliament, some time back in 2009 banned the importation, manufacture and use of polythene bag, popularly known as kavera of gauge below 30 microns.
The ban was based on the effects the Kavera has on the environment namely:-
Read more: NAPE Reacts to government’s lack of commitment to ban Kaveera (Polythene bags) in Uganda
NAPE and other Civil Society organizations in Uganda have been collaborating with Franciscans International (FI), a faith-based International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO) with General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and submitted a contribution to the list of issues to the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Uganda.
Franciscans International submitted a contribution to the list of issues in September 2014 and is now closely following the review process.
Read more: Review of economic, social and cultural rights in Uganda
The Bujagali hydropower dam on The River Nile in Uganda was finally commissioned in August 2012 after eighteen years of controversy that delayed the dam construction.
The dam faced numerous economic, environmental, social and spiritual challenges that stalled the dam construction while the project underwent investigations over bribery claims and project reviews on the dam design and capacity.
The dam cost kept on growing from $580 million at inception to $860 million and finally $902 million ($3.6million per MW) at completion. Independent investigations by the Ugandan Parliamentary adhoc committee on energy put the dam’s actual cost at $1.3 billion ($5.2m).
Kenya-based M-KOPA Solar announced that it has connected an estimated 20,000 Ugandan homes to affordable solar power in the past 15 months.
The ‘pay-as-you-go’ energy service provider for off-grid homes is extending its product offering across the country with a target of connecting 50,000 additional off-grid households by the end of 2015.
Jesse Moore, managing director and co-founder of M-KOPA Solar, said: “We are very proud of the M-KOPA III solar home system and our success to date in Uganda. Together we are helping Ugandans get rid of kerosene, improve their standard of living and save money all at once.”
M-KOPA customers can buy the M-KOPA III kit for a deposit of UGX 90,000 (ZAR390) plus 365 daily payments of UGX 1400 (ZAR5). The company claims the price is cheaper than the daily kerosene needed to power lights and to charge phones.
Read more: M-KOPA Solar power kits connecting 20,000 off-grid Ugandan homes
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