By Juma Nsubuga
Women Human Rights Defenders on Environmental matters (WHRDN)-Uganda chapter have called upon government and relevant stakeholders to enforce the existing laws to protect them.
The defenders claim that they are facing harassment and violence from community and security agencies while exercising their rights to defend and protect the environment.
Women Human Right Defenders Network made the call during a Mini- celebrations for the World Environment Day under the theme: ‘Recognizing and safeguarding women environmental defenders’ in Ntinda.
The Executive director of Women human Rights defenders Network Uganda Brenda Kugonza, revealed that Ugandan women have long stood at the front lines of environmental protection and climate justice but face resistance from the community who always harass them.
“It is government’s role through the concerned Ministry of water and environment and the national environment management authority (NEMA) to always protect women environment defenders.” Kugonza said adding that laws alone are not enough without strong implementation to protect women from attacks.
“We (WHRDN)-Uganda urge government to always provide support to grassroots women-led climate initiatives and hold corporations accountable for environmental degradation. We further want government to ensure the safety and security of women defenders so that the continue with their tasks without fear” she urged.
Diana Natukunda the Executive Director of Give A Hand Foundation, claimed that she’s being branded anti-development by some private security, whenever they try to stop destruction of wetlands.
Another wetland defender Viola Kataike from Jinja caused rib breaking laughter at the gathering after claiming that powerful lads are ignoring her because she speaks for the rights of others.
Irene who fights for deforestation in Hoima, says that she has been taken to courts of law and arrested several times for speaking out against logging and illegal tree cutting by companies which are protected by government.
Another activist Akello Sarah, who advocates for Gold and Limestone Mining in Moroto, said that mining has made water in Karamoja region dirty.
“We also face a challenge of hunger, health problems and even violence from armed guards near the mine places” adding that she’s received threatening messages whenever she ights for the safety of environment in mining areas of Karamoja region.
Meanwhile Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) director monitoring and inspection, Ruth Ssekindi noted that in all situations of human rights protections and defense, women are affected differently than men.
Ssekindi said that UHRC has received many complaints and concerns from human rights defenders about being harassed by the community and security agencies whenever they come out to question issues of environmental rights especially in Albertine region where oil was discovered and in Karamoja region in areas that have mineral resources.
“Majority of cases of environmental rights women question are in Bulisa and Albertine region where oil was found and they (Women) question issues of unfairness and gender issues which lead them to be harassed and intimidated while others have been relocated to other areas” Said Ssekindi.
The National Enviroment Management Authority (NEMA) manager in charge of legal and corporate affairs Eunice Asinguza Mubanguzi says Uganda women have a lot to do in terms of sensitization to know their rights on environment.
“Women and children are affected greatly than men on rights of environment but government is concerned about the issue” she said.
Ugandan women are not just victims of climate change but they are leaders in the struggle for environmental and climate justice.
