MP Ekanya calls for amendment of Parliament and Local government election Act
- Certificate of environmental compliance should be made a requirement for leaders in public office
- NEMA wants special court to handle environmental matters
Member of Parliament for Tororo North constituency, Geoffrey Ekanya wants amendment be done on both the Parliamentary and local government election Acts to bring in the aspect of environment compliance.
According to him, for any leader before getting nominated to contest in elections especially parliamentary, Certificate of environmental compliance must be a requirement if the country is to realize positive trends towards addressing the environment challenges.
Ekanya who was speaking at the parliamentary symposium on environment, natural resources and economic development, noted that leaders must set example by walking the talk.
He further urged all organizations and agencies championing environment, to set standards.
"This can be done in many ways, you can start by avoiding to organize conference meetings in hotels that are still using plastic bottles, plastic chairs among others" Ekanya said.
In the same meeting, the Executive Director National Environmental Management Authority's E, Dr. Barirega Akankwasa called on parliamentarians to lead the cause that will see increase of NEMA Annual budget from 13 billion shillings to at least 60 billion shillings.
He noted that whereas the ministry of finance is proposing 16 billion shillings for the authority for next financial year, the authority will still be operating below the minimum funding according to the National Development Phase 3.
Dr. Akakwasa stressed the need for establishment of a special court in bid to expedite cases related to environmental degradation.
According to him, ordinary courts of law take long to penalize culprits found mismanaging the environment.He noted that the proposed high court division on environment courts will ease prosecution of whoever is found degrading the environment.