John Baptist Lokii, the Matheniko County MP says the land audit would help the leaders in the region to ascertain how much land has remained for the people of Karamoja.
Sabina Lokeris, a Village Health Team member for Iriiri Sub County in Napak district, says that since December last year, the district health team together with VHTs have been engaged in sensitising the community to ensure hygiene and smear their houses with cow dung.
Andrew Locugae, the LCV councilor for Nadunget sub county in Moroto district told URN that they suspect the fire was caused by people cooking and leaving some fire burning, since most families cook in then open.
Sarah Angolere, a mother of five children, who has benefiting from collecting the gum, says it is a very lucrative business and alternative source of livelihood for many women and men who could not afford to dig. "By now we could be harvesting the gum because this is the time but now all the trees that produce gum have been destroyed," she said.
Mr. Isaac Bwire the official from International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) however, said the rapid degradation of range land can be stopped if the districts of Karamoja can pass by-laws against environmental destruction in the region.
Dr. Alice Lamwaka, a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Bio-Technology and Pharmaceutical Studies also the head of the center, says the money is needed to set up a structure to serve as a clinic, buy furniture, motivate staff and conducting trials for various herbal medicines.
Francis Byarugaba, the Sembabule District Environment Officer says they are working on an ordinance that will fully operationalize the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act of 2003, for purposes of saving traditional tree species that are currently at great risk.
