Republic of Uganda

Oscar Rigo de Righi and Alessandro Colombano

Topic A: Water for sustainable development

Ever since the dawn of humanity water has been the most important factor for our survival. This is why the
greatest civilizations always started developing near a river which provided them with fertile lands, energy
and of course drinking water, which is necessary since man can survive without it for only very few days.
Today as we challenge climate change, water is at risk too due to the rise of temperatures that leads to greater
evaporation rates and plant transpiration which results in water loss in soil and plants. This can be seen in
Africa where desertification is expanding and many areas are seeing their water supplies shrink. Apart from
climate change, pollution to water sources in many nations is being directly caused by humans. In fact,
Uganda’s water supplies are threatened by toxic industrial pollutants like mercury because of the mining
activity. We must find alternative energy sources in order to combat climate change and secure our water
supplies.

Thankfully water itself can be part of the solution. The General Assembly in resolution A/RES/73/226 of the
73rd session and resolution A/RES/71/222 has requested all members to take action in the “Water Action
Decade 2018-2028”, a specific program for goal 6 “clean water and sanitation” of the Sustainable
Development Goals that addresses nations on the worlds water resources to meet with human, economic and
environmental needs. Water is such an important topic that it has been discussed at the UNAE Nairobi
Conference and in chapter 18 of the Agenda 21 of the “Earth Summit” in Rio de Janeiro (1992) which is
titled “Protection of the Quality and Supply of Freshwater Resources: application of integrated Approaches
to Development, Management and Use of Water Resources”. This very detailed guide emphasizes the need
for protection of freshwater resources (including both surface water and groundwater) and how water can be
exploited for urban and rural development and in the end for economic purposes. Water can have such an
economic potential in terms of producing energy an alternative to the use of oil, gas and coal. Furthermore,
water is ironically the oldest method of producing energy in the first place. In fact, Hydroelectricity would be
very beneficial to the African continent since according to the International Hydropower Association, Africa
has the highest percentage of untapped technical hydropower potential in the world with only 11% being
utilized. Fortunately, the African Union and African Development Bank supports the “Programme for
Infrastructure Development in Africa”(PIDA), affirming hydropower development as a priority. The
PIDA estimates that the region’s total generating capacity needs to increase by 6 per cent per year to
2040 from the current total of 125 GW to keep pace with rising electricity demand caused mainly by
the growth of cities like Kampala in Uganda. The Ugandan government currently acknowledges the
potential of using hydroelectricity and so far it is expected that by the end of 2019 with the conclusion of the
Karuma project along with the Isimba Hydroelectric Dam, which are both located on the Victorian Nile
river, Uganda’s total hydropower capacity will double from 764 MW to 1552 MW. This will obviously
provide more clean energy to the country’s industries and especially to the population by also reaching poor
rural areas with no electricity.

The Republic of Uganda believes that Hydroelectricity is the perfect solution for sustainable development on
the African continent. We call on all of our neighboring countries to work together in an intergovernmental
regional project with the task of creating and maintaining dams, artificial pipelines and canals in order to
provide clean energy while at the same time supplying fresh water to our cities, industries and most
importantly to poor rural areas where finding fresh water can be a daily struggle. Uganda acknowledges that
this project can be expensive but on the other hand having significant long-term benefits: clean energy for
everyone and low maintenance at a minimal cost. Moreover, the project would create millions of jobs as well
as more people having access to fresh water thanks to artificial pipelines that can be used for sanitation and
agriculture. Another factor to be considered is that by handing out more fresh water, the ecosystem will be
able to recover faster from deforestation and resist desertification. It is important that the international
community focuses on water because that is the resource where life starts and continues and that is the
resource that created also great civilizations. So let us rebuild our civilizations and fix our planet in
accordance with nature through water by being innovative but at the same time original.

Topic B: Every drop counts for our soil and body

The collateral damages on water caused by climate change are having an impressive effect on our food
system, especially in African countries with the rise of severe storms and floods that play the factor of
degrading water quality along with pollutants and the expansion of desertification and deforestation. Water
degrading reduces potable water that is used for drinking, sanitation and farming purposes but it also has
effects on the ecosystem by making certain areas uninhabitable for many animals and plants. In fact,
Uganda’s species like the mountain gorilla, the Nile crocodile, the white and black rhinoceros along with 10
of the nation's bird species are endangered, as well as 8 species of plants. Water degrading, deforestation and
desertification are to blame. A major consequence is that the natural food chain and fertile lands are in severe
danger because of harmful human actions and the degeneration of the soil. As we can see, all of these
problems have to do with the availability and accessibility of clean water.

Since 40% of the global population makes a living directly on agriculture while the rest of the population is
indirectly affected by it, it is important to maintain water quality and expand potable water. In fact),
the National Development Plan identifies agriculture as a vital contributory growth sector capable
of reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth. The plan will focus on increasing production and
productivity, agro-processing and increase enterprise efficiency through commodity value chains. In
order to increase sustained production, 133 billion has been allocated to the National
Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADs) to increase the commercialization of improved seeds and
other planting materials. As a member state of the United Nations, Uganda takes part at The
Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions Network which is working towards the vision of a world where
there will be an equitable and sustainable use and management of water and energy resources for all, in
support of human well-being, ecosystem integrity and a robust, inclusive economy, under the umbrella of
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. (Unfortunately, in Uganda, 80% of the city dwellers and
only 47% of the population living in rural areas has access to pure drinking water and this contributes to the
fact that still 5% of the population is dying of hunger. Furthermore, a large part of the population is living
isolated from urban centers which is at a high risk of malnutrition. The situation is similarly dire for
neighboring nations as well. Therefore, it is vital to act urgently on this matter.

To create a sustainable food management system, Uganda encourages other nations to take part in
The Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions Network. The objective is to build a global multi-
stakeholder partnership and network to enhance capacities, dialogues and cooperation at all levels,
enabling cross-sectoral approaches, advocacy and knowledge management.
To combat famine, Uganda needs a flourishing agriculture which requires a large amount of water
and energy. To find them, it is necessary to invest in the construction of water filtration facilities and
in hydroelectric power plants. In order to fund the construction of the infrastructures, it is
necessary to graft economically the neighboring countries, which could then benefit from the
development generated by their own investments.