Mh. chenge ambaye ni waziri wa miundombinu akijibu maswali ya mapaparazi waliomfata uwanja wa kimataifa wa ndege wa jk nyerere kuhusu tuhuma zinazo mkabili za kukutwa na akaunti yenye shilingi billion moja nchini uingereza

Mnyama Simba na kibarua cha kurejesha deni la magori manne dhidi ya enyimba je wataweza???????, watanzanaia tu waombee wavuke kisiki hiki.

Balozi kazaula mwenyekiti wa bodi ya wakurugenzi TANESCO na Mkuu wa chuo kikuu Dar es salam

Majaji wa bongo star search wa kiongozwa na bi salama wakati washiriki wa kumtafuta super star wa bongo waki rise comments zao. Hapa salama anaonekana akimpinga mshiriki mmoja, watu wengi walitokea kumchukia sana salama kutokana na comment zake za uwazi na ukweli.

Mheshimiwa Dr. Diodorus Buberwa Kamala, Waziri wa ushirikiano wa afrika mashariki na mbunge wa nkenge

Wadau mrembo kutoka kenya miss kenya 2007

Jamani wadau hili ni gari la mdau wangu yuko bukoba kule mzee DIVOT RUGAIBULA mzee wa mujini kule kwetu bk.

UFISADI JAMANI....................!

NIMESOMA muhtasari (Executive Summary) wa Ripoti ya Kamati Teule ya Richmond na nilipata pia fursa ya kumsikiliza Mhe. Harrison Mwakyembe alipokuwa anaiwasilisha bungeni, licha ya kwamba umeme hapa kwetu ulikuwa unakatika katika kama kawaida.

Kwanza, nijiunge na Watanzania wazalendo wenzangu kuipongeza Kamati ya Mwakyembe kwa umakini, uzalendo na ujasiri walioonyesha katika kutayarisha ripoti hii. Nawapongeza pia waheshimiwa wabunge wote waliochangia siku ile ya mwanzo.Walionyesha uzalendo na ujasiri na walijali masilahi ya taifa na hasa Watanzania wanyonge. Ni matumaini yangu kwamba mjadala huu utakaoendelea hata baada ya Bunge kumaliza mkutano wake wa 10.

Nimpongeze pia Mhe. Mizengo Pinda kwa kuteuliwa kuwa Waziri Mkuu na kumtakia kila la heri kwa dhati, katika majukumu haya mazito mapya aliyokabidhiwa na umma wa Watanzania.Pili, nataka kusema, nakiri kwa dhati kabisa kwamba natishwa binafsi na ufisadi huu pamoja na ule ulioanikwa na ripoti ya wakaguzi wa kimataifa, Ernst & Young, kuhusu Benki Kuu ya Tanzania na matumizi ya akaunti ya EPA.

Nielewavyo ni kwamba bado kuna madudu zaidi yatafichuliwa Benki Kuu na katika mashirika mengine! Najiuliza: Tanzania tunaelekea wapi? Kwanza nashauri tusali, kumwomba na kumsihi Mwenyezi Mungu atuvushe katika majanga haya, kwa ama sivyo nchi hii inaelekea kulipuka.

Tatu, imethibitishwa kwamba kampuni hii ya Richmond inayojidai kutuzalishia umeme ni kampuni feki. Hata kule Houston, Marekani inapodai imesajiliwa, imethibitishwa kwamba jina hilo linatumiwa na kampuni ya uchapishaji wa bahasha na vifaa vya karatasi.Richmond ilijidai ina uhusiano na Kampuni ya kimataifa ya Pratt & Whitney inayotengeneza mitambo ya umeme, lakini mjumbe wao ni laghai na hajulikani kwa kampuni hiyo.

Katika kutekeleza majukumu yake kulingana na mkataba, Richmond iliweza kuzalisha baada ya utata uliohusiana na mitambo kuwa mibovu na chakavu, umeme wa MW 20 tu badala ya MW 100. Kabla hata kutimiza majukumu kulingana na mkataba, Richmond ikakabidhi mkataba kwa kampuni ya Dowans kwa mtindo wa kiubabe na kutozingatia masharti na taratibu zilizoidhinishwa katika mkataba wenyewe.

Nne, kimaslahi mkataba huu wa Richmond ni wenye kugharimu Tanzania sana. Katika kutekeleza masharti ya mkataba, viongozi wetu serikalini wameonekana watu wasiojali gharama ama kwa kutojua, kuzembea au kwa makusudi kutokana na faida za kibinafsi.Kwa mfano, pale Richmond walipotaka walipwe fedha za awali kwa Hati Muamana (Letter of Credit) ya dola za Marekani 30 milioni, benki mbili maarufu za Marekani zilikataa. Hii ilikuwa ni dalili au ushahidi tosha na onyo kwamba Richmond walikuwa ni kampuni isiyokopesheka.Lakini wakubwa serikalini wakang'ang'ania na Benki Kuu kwa mantiki isiyoeleweka, ikatoa dhamana kwa CRDB na kuilazimisha kufungua hiyo Hati Muamana. Kwa hiyo hii kampuni feki ikaanza kulipwa.

Tano, kwa kuzingatia masharti ya mkataba wa kukodisha hiyo mitambo ya Richmond, bei ya umeme ilikuwa kubwa kuliko bei ambazo wale wazabuni wengine wangetoza. Lakini kwa sababu zisizoelezeka wakubwa wetu wakazikubali. Lakini baya zaidi ni kwamba mkataba unalazimisha TANESCO kulipia mitambo hiyo sh 152,000,000 kila siku (capacity charge)!

Mwanzoni mkataba ulikuwa unataka malipo ya capacity charge iwe ni kwa muda wa mwaka mmoja, lakini, bila kujali kwamba hizi ni gharama za ziada na ni kubwa sana kiasi cha kutisha, wakubwa wamekubali malipo haya yawe kwa miaka miwili.Kwa maana nyingine ni kwamba kila siku, sisi wateja wa TaNESCO tunatozwa fedha za ziada sh 152 milioni zinazokwenda kwa Richmond kwa huduma hewa, pamoja na malipo ya umeme ikiwa mitambo ya Richmond inafanya kazi siku hiyo.Kwa mwaka huu wenye siku 366 tutalipa sh 152 milioni x 366 = 55,632 milioni kwa umeme hewa kwa vile TaNESCO ni lazima watutoze ili walipe Richmond.

Bila shaka hii gharama ya ziada kwa Kampuni ya TANESCO ni sababu mojawapo ya kuongeza kuanzia Januari mosi mwaka huu, bei ya umeme kwa asilimia 21. Nyongeza hii haitoshelezi, kwa hiyo wanataka kuongeza tena kwa asilimia 40. Mhe. Karamagi, Waziri wa Nishati hata hakuona aibu kueleza wabunge na Watanzania kwamba hili ni ongezeko la lazima.

Halafu nikamsikia Mhe. waziri mmoja akieleza kwamba eti mfumko wa bei nchini umesababishwa na upungufu wa chakula!Mbona ongezeko hili la gharama za umeme, pamoja na mabilioni yaliyoingizwa katika mzunguko wa fedha kutokana na wizi katika Benki Kuu hayatajwi kama sababu ya mfumko wa bei? Wataalamu wetu wa uchumi na fedha hawashauri hawa mawaziri?Sisi tungeweza kukubali kuwa bei ya umeme ingeongezeka kutokana na mitambo na spea zake kugharimu zaidi. Tungeridhika pia kama bei ya mafuta ya kuendeshea mitambo ingepanda, au kodi itozwayo ingeongezwa.

Lakini ongezeko la bei ya umeme litokanalo na malipo ya ziada kwa kampuni feki ya Richmond kwa mitambo iliyosimama na isiyofanya kazi ni lazima lipingwe kwa kila njia kwa vile madhara yake juu ya mfumko wa bei yanaenea kote. Hayana mpaka. Kwa hiyo basi wale wote waliohusika kuidhinisha mkataba huu ni lazima waadhibiwe vikali.Nasema kwamba hawa mafisadi waadhibiwe kwa vile matokeo ya bei ya kuruka ya umeme ni Watanzania wote, matajiri na maskini kutozwa bei kubwa kwa huduma hii muhimu. Viwanda kushindwa kuzalisha bidhaa au kupandisha bei ya bidhaa zizalishwazo.

Ajira kupungua kutokana na viwanda au shughuli nyingine za uzalishaji kama kupampu maji ya kumwagilia kupunguza matumizi, kwa vile gharama zimepanda mno.Hapa nazungumzia hali halisi inavyojitokeza sasa katika viwanda na mashamba yetu yanayomwagiliwa. Huduma za kielimu na za afya zinazohitaji umeme zinagharimu zaidi.

Hata serikalini gharama za umeme zimeongezeka!Baya zaidi na la kulaaniwa ni kwamba Richmond ni kundi la matapeli, likishirikisha viongozi wetu mafisadi, walio na uroho wa kujitajirisha haraka haraka na kutokujali kunyonya damu na jasho la Watanzania wanyonge.Hawana huruma na Watanzania wanaokosa matibabu na elimu, na wanaomudu mlo mmoja tu kwa siku. Kutokana na fedha hizi za Richmond kulipwa nje ya nchi ni kwamba Tanzania inaendelea kutumbukia katika lindi la umaskini licha ya CCM kutangaza kwamba wananuia kuleta maisha bora kwa Watanzania wote.

Hawa mafisadi washauriwe waunde chama chao wakiite "chama cha matapeli".Fursa iliyojitokeza sasa ni lazima itumiwe kuchunguza kwa kina jinsi kila mmoja wao wa hawa mafisadi alivyojinufaisha binafsi na malipo haya yaliyotolewa kwa kampuni feki. Washiriki wao wote wa ndani na nje wachunguzwe kwa umakini; wale wa nje wakipigwa marufuku kuingia tena Tanzania, isipokuwa tu pale wanapoletwa kushitakiwa katika mahakama zetu kwa kosa hili la jinai.Wote wa ndani wachunguzwe kwa nia ya kuwaleta mbele ya mahakama endapo inadhihirika hiyo ndiyo stahili yao.

Endapo wanapatikana na hatia, si tu wafungwe, bali mali zao zifilisiwe katika juhudi za kurejesha angalau kwa Serikali ya Tanzania, fedha zilizolipwa kwa udanganyifu na ulaghai kwa hii kampuni hewa. Kama kuna wawakilishi wa Richmond ambao wanazurura Tanzania wafukuzwe kama haiwezekani kuwatia mbaroni.Mwisho, kuna tetesi kwamba mkataba huu hauwezi kutupiliwa mbali eti kwa vile ulikuwa ni baina ya shirika la Tanzania na "mwekezaji" wa nje na hata Kituo cha Uwekezaji cha Tanzania (TIC) kilitoa leseni au idhini kwa Richmond.Sasa kama imedhihirika kwamba kampuni hii ni feki, na kwamba hata huko kwao Houston, Texas hakuna kampuni inayoshughulika na mitambo ya kuzalisha umeme yenye jina hilo, kwa nini mkataba huu usibatilishwe (abrogated) na malipo yanayofanywa na TANESCO kusimamishwa? Huu mkataba wa Richmond ni 'bogus'.

Kama hakuna mtu atakeyetupeleka katika hiyo Mahakama ya Kimataifa, basi tuna kila sababu ya kuutupilia mbali mkataba wa Richmond. Hao wanaosemekana ni wamiliki wa mitambo chakavu iliyoletwa na kufungwa Tanzania, basi wajitokeze aidha wairudishe makwao au waiuze kwa mteja atakayejitokeza.Pendekezo la kubatilisha (revoke) mkataba wa Richmond ni changamoto kwa Serikali iliyoundwa upya na Mhe. Rais Jakaya Kikwete Februari 12, 2008. Naamini matokeo yake ni kwamba wakubwa hawatathubutu tena kuingia katika ufisadi kwa vile mengi yatafichuliwa. Tanzania bila ufisadi na rushwa inawezekana!

HOTUBA YA MH. EDWARD NGOYAI LOWASA WAKATI WA MJADALA WA RIPOTI YA KAMATI TEULE YA BUNGE ILIYOCHUNGUZA MCHAKATO WA ZABUNI YA KUZALISHA UMEME"RICHMOND"

"Mheshimiwa Spika, kwanza napenda kuchukua nafasi hii kukushukuru sana kwa kunifanya msemaji wa kwanza katika hoja hii.

Lakini la pili, nimpongeze Dk. Harrison Mkwakyembe, Mwenyekiti wa kamati Teule kwa kuwasilisha kwa mbwembwe nyingi sana taarifa yake, mbwembwe zilikuwa nzuri kweli.Kwa kazi nzuri kwa maoni yao, wamewasilisha vizuri.

Lakini nimesimama kuweka kwenye kumbukumbu kutoridhika kwangu na jinsi kazi hiyo ilivyofanywa. Mheshimiwa Dk. Mwakyembe ni Mwanasheria, tena Daktari alikuwa anafundisha Chuo Kikuu. Moja ya vitu alivyokuwa anafundisha ni "Natural Justice".Mheshimiwa Spika, wewe ni Mwanasheria unafahamu suala la Natural Justice. Kwamba Kamati Teule imesikiliza watu wengine wote pamoja na wanaoita minong'ono ya mitaani, wamesafiri mpaka Marekani kutafuta mashahidi, lakini mimi ambaye ni mmoja kati ya watuhumiwa mle hawakunihoji hata siku moja.Mheshimiwa Spika, nimesimama kueleza masikitiko yangu. Ofisi ya Bunge mpaka ofisini kwangu hata kama wangeniita ningekwenda kwa miguu kama hamna gari na nilikuwa tayari kufanya hivyo.

Hawa ni watu makini sana siwezi kuamini kwamba wanaweza wakafanya oversite kama hiyo. Kwa sababu katika kila hoja walizojenga wamesema Waziri Mkuu ilikuwa hivi. Kulikuwa na shida gani kuja kuniuliza Waziri Mkuu wanasema uliotoa dokezo hili ni sawa sawa kweli? Kulikuwa na shida gani kwa mfano kufuata utaratibu wa Westminster kuthibitisha hapo unaposema mwenye Richmond ni fulani uka-lay on the table records na ushahidi kuwa ni fulani.

Mheshimiwa Spika, Taifa letu ni Taifa changa, lakini chombo hiki ndiyo mahali pa demokrasia pakubwa katika nchi pote, hapa ndipo penyewe. Kama katika chombo hiki haki haitaonekana kutendeka nchi yetu haitakwenda vizuri. Hapa ndipo tunategemea tuwaonyeshe umakini wetu, umahiri wetu katika mambo ya demokrasia. Kwa nhiyo nilichofanyiwa napenda kuweka kumbukumbu sawa kwamba naona si sahihi, nimefadhaika sana, nimedhalilishwa sana, nimeonewa sana katika hili.Maana zimechukuliwa tuhuma zikaelezwa hapa kwamba hivi ndivyo ilivyo. Mimi sijauliza. Kulikuwa na shida gani kuniuliza, kwa nini muamini minong'ono ya mitaani kuliko maelezo yangu. Sisi wote hapa ni wanasiasa tukianza kuamini minong'ono ya mitaani niambieni mwanasiasa atakayesimama. Hatuwezi, Tume imepewa muda wa kutosha lakini inashindwa kumuona mtu ambaye wanamtuhumu na wanamsema kwa kirefu sana.

Mheshimiwa Spika, lakini hata pale uliponinong'oneza ukaniambia una ushahidi wowote? Nilikupa ushahidi huo wa maandishi. Katika taarifa yao hakuna hata moja ya ushahidi ambao umetoka Waziri Mkuu. Kile kitabu cha majedwali kimejaa majedwali mengi pamoja na magazeti mpaka ya Udaku lakini maelezo ya Waziri Mkuu hakuna hata moja.

Mheshimiwa Spika, naamini ingekuwa ni heshima wangeiweka halafu wakasema tunakataa kitambulisho hiki kwa sababu hii na hii, hiyo ndiyo imejengwa hoja. Lakini kujenga hoja na kuja hapa Bungeni tunahutubia nchi nzima na kusema Waziri Mkuu amefanya hiki, amefanya hiki bila ya kumsikiliza nachelea kuuliza hivi mtu wa chini itakuwaje?

Mheshimiwa Spika, lakini nimetafakari kwa makini sana jambo hili nikajiuliza hivi kulikoni mpaka watu wazima wenye uwezo wao, watu maarufu wenye heshima zao, mpaka wafike mahali waache jambo la msingi kama hilo kulikoni? Mimi nadhani there is a wish which I am going to grant, ni Uwaziri Mkuu. Nadhani tatizo ni Uwaziri Mkuu. Kwamba ionekane Waziri Mkuu ndio amefanya haya, tumuondolee heshima au tumwajibishe.

Mheshimiwa Spika, nimetafakari kwa niaba ya chama changu, kwa niaba ya Serikali yangu nimeamua kumwandikia Rais barua ya kumwomba niachie ngazi. Nafanya hivyo kwa moyo mweupe kabisa ili kuonyesha dhana ya uwajibikaji lakini kutokubaliana na utaratibu uliotumika kusema uongo ndani ya Bunge wa kumsingizia mtu.

Mheshimiwa Spika, nitumie nafasi hii kumshukuru sana Rais kwa heshima aliyonipa ya kutumikia nchi hii kwa Uwaziri Mkuu kwa miaka miwili.Namshukuru sana Mheshimiwa Rais.Nakushukuru wewe, nawashukuru Mawaziri na Manaibu Waziri, nawshukuru Waheshimiwa Wabunge na wanachama wa CCM tuliyosimamia Ilani ya Uchaguzi ya Chama cha Mapinduzi.Mheshimiwa Spika, baada ya kusema hayo nashukuru".

DR. KAMALA AKUTANA NA WAFANYA KAZI WA WIZARA YA USHIRIKIANO WA AFRIKA MASHARIKI Jana waziri mpya aliyeteuliwa katika baraza jipya la mawaziri Dr.Diodorus Kamala alikutana na wafanyakazi wa wizara yake ya afrika mashariki nakuwasihi wampe ushirikiano katika kuijenga wizara hii mpya ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania.

Dr. Kamala ambaye kabla ya uteuzi huo alikuwa naibu waziri wa wizara hiyo, amemshukuru mheshimiwa rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania mh. Jakaya Kikwete kwa imani aliyonayo kwake hatimaye kumteua kushika wadhifa huo nyeti, mh. Kamala alisema atahakikisha maslai ya watanzania yanawekwa mbele katika kuelekea kwenye shirikisho la kisiasa la afrika mashariki.

Mh. Dr Kamala aliwashukuru wafanyakazi wote wa wizara kwa ushirikiano wao walio mpa kipindi akiwa naibu waziri na akawaomba wazidi kumpa ushirikiano katika kipindi hiki ambacho amepewa dhamana ya kuiongoza wizara hii nyeti, amewaomba wafanyakazi waunde team work ili waweze kutimiza malengo yao ya kila siku.

Mkutano huo ulio hudhuliwa na viongozi wote wa wizara wakiongozwa na mwenyekiti wao wa chama cha wafanyakazi tawi la wizara ya afrika mashariki ndg. Maguzu, walimwahidi mh. waziri kumpa ushirikiano wa hari na mali ili kufikia malengo ya wizara. Akitoa shukrani zake kwa niaba ya katibu mkuu, ndg Uled alimwahidi mh. waziri ushirikiano na uchapakazi uliotukuka, vilevile alimpongeza kwa kuteuliwa kwake kushika wadhifa huo.

Dr. Kamala's Paper on Afro-Arabs Conference in Uganda last month

INTRODUCTION

The word Environment commands a very broad meaning. It includes: air, land and water; plant and animal life including human life; the social, economic, recreational, cultural and aesthetic conditions and factors that influence the lives of human beings and their communities; buildings, structures, machines or other devices made by man; any solids, liquids, gases, odour, heat, sound, vibration or radiation resulting directly or indirectly from the activities of man; and any part or combination of the foregoing and the inter-relationships between two or more of them (URT, 1997). Environmental is abroad term, according to Paul Selman, 2000 and NEP, 1997, Environment means physical and biological systems which provide our basic life support and which contribute to our psychological well-being. It includes air, water, land, plant and animal life including human life, the social, economic, cultural, recreational and aesthetic conditions, buildings, technologies, and the direct and indirect impact of human activities. East African cooperation involves member’s countries namely, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, as well as Rwanda and Burundi which are the new comers within the community. The leading members of the community that is Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda plays great role in attaining environmental sustainability through their national environmental policies. The process of attaining environmental sustainability needs great emphasize from the government as well as from the citizens. East African countries have taken into consideration the issue of environmental protection and management through forming various organisations which specifically deal with environmental protection as the way of attaining environmental sustainability. For example, in Tanzania there is National Environmental management council (NEMC), Kenya there is National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), the same applied to Uganda there is NEMA, and these organisations enforce environmental policies and laws from the centre to the grass roots. TANZANIA NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, 1997 Tanzania National Environmental Policy has identified major six environmental issues which needs more attention, these include: - (URT, 1997) i. Land degradation; ii. Lack of accessible, good quality water for both urban and rural inhabitants; iii. Environmental pollution; iv. Loss of wildlife habitats and biodiversity; v. Deterioration of aquatic systems; and vi. Deforestation. Each of these is important to the economic well-being of the country and the health of the people. To expand on the above problems, it is appreciated that: - i. Land degradation is reducing the productivity of soils in many parts of Tanzania; ii. Despite considerable national effort, over half the people in towns and in the countryside do not have access to good quality water for washing, cooking, drinking and bathing; iii. Pollution in towns and the countryside is affecting the health of many people, and has lowered the productivity of the environment; iv. The loss of habitats for wildlife is threatening the national heritage and creating an uncertain future for the tourist industry; v. The productivity of lake, river, coastal and marine waters is threatened by pollution and poor management; and vi. Tanzania forest and woodland heritage is being reduced year by year through clearance for agriculture, for wood fuel and for other demands. These environmental issues needs greet attention so as to enable attainment of environmental sustainability. NATIONAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT POLICIES IN KENYA. Environmental and development challenges for Kenya include ensuring an equitable and sustainable pattern of development to meet people’s needs and aspirations for better standard of living. There is also the challenge to develop sustainable industrial production while maintaining an environmentally sound resource base. However, while development planning has been accorded high priority throughout the history of Kenya, environmental planning has received far less emphasis. Efforts to develop environmental planning sectoral level have met with varying degrees of success, For instance, although Kenya has one of the most sophisticated soil conservation programmes in Africa, sedimentation is still major threat to its dams and lakes. Kenya derives an enormous income from wildlife through tourist trade, yet some of the large mammals, notably the elephant and the rhinoceros, are threatened with extinction. While the ministry of environmental and natural resources would like wetlands preserved in order to maintain biodiversity, the department of land reclamation would like the same wetlands reclaimed for agricultural expansion (Wamicha, et al, 1997). ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN UGANDA. In 1991, Uganda launched its first National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) process. The main purpose of the NEAP was to integrate environmental concerns into the overall socio-economic development process, in further to address concrete modalities for the conservation of Uganda’s natural heritage. The NEAP process resulted in several environmental policies, legislation, institutional arrangements and an investment plan (http://www.nemaug.org/). The process of managing and protecting the environment in Uganda is coordinated by National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA). Overall Goal of NEMA: committed to continuous improvement of the internal and external environmental management of NEMA’s activities and ideals and practices of environmental sustainability. Objectives: To ensure that the overall goal of the Environmental Policy is achieved, NEMA is committed to the following four objectives that are appropriate to the nature, scale and environmental impacts of NEMA’s activities: 1. Greening the Work Practices a) Comply with all relevant environmental laws, regulations, standards and other requirements; b) Integrate environmental considerations in the procurement practices; c) Reduce, reuse and recycle materials and goods purchased; d) Save energy and reduce water consumption; and e) Promote good house keeping practices. 2. Greening the Work Places a) Improve the quality of the working environment within NEMA House (internal air quality, water quality, waste management, paper use, energy use, health and safety, among others; b) Training staff in environmental management systems (EMS), and its implementation. 3. Contribute to the Global Community a) Enhance networking and capacity building in environmental management; b) Develop and implement projects that contribute to environmental sustainability 4. Contribute to the Local Community a) Participate as a responsible party in local initiatives that improve the quality of the environment; and b) Organize events to raise local awareness of environmental problems. Strategies: The goal and objective of this policy statement will be implemented through an EMS Plan containing measurable targets and with monitoring, review, self-assessment and analysis of performance against the plan. Corrective action, whenever appropriate, shall be encouraged among staff to ensure improvement in environmental performance and that the NEMA EMS is maintained. To achieve the above, we shall: a) Carry out semi-annual reviews of the activities, procedures and programmes in order to ensure continuous improvement of the EMS; and b) Document and communicate the policy to all staff and employees through meetings, training sessions, displaying it on the notice- boards, website and other places (http://www.nemaug.org/). There are various environmental programs in Uganda targets in attaining sustainable utilization of stock resources of the mother nature which is the environment, for instance, there is the project of Uganda Earth Education organised by Jane Goodall institute (JGI) - African programs, The goal of this project is to influence and reduce environmentally damaging practices within vulnerable areas of Uganda, with a focus on chimpanzee habitat areas. Objectives of Jane Goodall institute (JGI) - African programs:- Ø To improve environmental education throughout Uganda by training and supplying primary and secondary teachers and community members with environmental knowledge, skills, and curricula designed to encourage behavioral change. Ø To assist teachers and the Ugandan school system to deliver environmantal education curricula to 10,000 primary students and 400,000 secondary students over a three-year period. Ø To carry out a series of “sensitization” visits for local leaders and politicians in order to raise their awareness of environmental concerns and the efforts needed to resolve them. JGI-Uganda is concerned that if the project targets only one cohort, i.e. primary students, secondary students, or adults, then the level of environmental awareness and sustainable resource use required will be very difficult to achieve. By targeting all three groups JGI-Uganda hopes to influence as much of the population as possible, thus increasing environmental awareness throughout Uganda at all levels (www.janegoodall.org/africa-programs) MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF NILE RIVER BASIN The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is a partnership initiated and led by the riparian states of the Nile River through the Council of Ministers of Water Affairs of the Nile Basin states (Nile Council of Ministers, or Nile-COM). The NBI seeks to develop the river in a cooperative manner, share substantial socioeconomic benefits, and promote regional peace and security. Cooperative water resources management is complex in any international river basin. In the Nile Basin, which is characterized by water scarcity, poverty, a long history of dispute and insecurity, and rapidly growing populations and demand for water, it is particularly difficult. The NBI started with a participatory process of dialogue among the riparians that resulted in their agreeing on a shared vision—to “achieve sustainable socioeconomic development through the equitable utilization of, and benefit from, the common Nile Basin water resources. Nile river basin is crucial river for the people of East Africa, there fore management and conservation of that Trans-Boundary resource is of great significance as the basin plays great role to socio- economic development for the people of East Africa and Africa at large. Recognizing that cooperative development holds the greatest prospects for bringing benefits to the entire region, and aware of the challenges, the Nile riparians took an historic step in establishing the Nile Basin Initiative. Formally launched in February 1999, the initiative provides an institutional mechanism, a shared vision, and a set of agreed policy guidelines to provide a basin wide framework for cooperative action. The policy guidelines define the following as the primary objectives of the NBI:- Ø To develop the Nile Basin water resources in a sustainable and equitable way to ensure Ø prosperity, security, and peace for all its peoples Ø To ensure efficient water management and the optimal use of the resources Ø To ensure cooperation and joint action between the riparian countries, seeking win-win gains Ø To target poverty eradication and promote economic integration Ø To ensure that the program results in a move from planning to action. The Strategic Action Program represents the Nile riparians’ strategic approach to achieving sustainable socioeconomic development in the basin through “equitable utilization of, and benefit from, the common Nile Basin water resources.” The Strategic Action Program provides the means for translating this shared vision into concrete activities through a two-fold, complementary approach: Ø Lay the groundwork for cooperative action through a regional program to build confidence and capacity throughout the basin (the Shared Vision Program) Ø Pursue, simultaneously, cooperative development opportunities to realize physical investments and tangible results through sub-basin activities (Subsidiary action programs) in the Eastern Nile and the Nile Equatorial Lakes regions (www.nilebasin.org). PERFOMANCE EVALUATION OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES WITHIN THE EAC MEMBER STATES. The laws on natural resources are still underdeveloped in the region though conservation ranks high in most governments’ development agenda as evident in the compilation of State of Environment Reports, and development of National Environmental Action Plans (NEAPs) which are primarily off-shoots of structural adjustment economic and environmental policies spearheaded by the World Bank (Monica, P. 1998). Kenya is the only country in the region which has legislation on Intellectual Property Rights which are gazetted as Industrial Property Act (Cap.509), Trade Marks Act (Cap.506) and Copyright Act (Cap.130), under the Kenya Industrial Property Office established in 1989. The rights include protection of parts of products of biotechnological process in form of inventions. The Act has a provision for protection of plant genetic resources or improvement. Legislation affecting agricultural genetic resources was based upon colonial agriculture was developed by the importation of new genetic material in form of new crops and varieties, species and hybrid seeds. This has disturbed the local genetic scenario. In its emphasis on agriculture meant that other genetic resources were ignored and trampled by expanding agricultural activities (Monica, P. 1998). POLICY GAPS Existing environmental policies, natural resources laws and plant genetic resources policies are beset with various technical, policy and socio-political constraints. Laws relevant to conservation and management of genetic resources in the region have been developed piecemeal over a long period of time. The fragments of policy which have emerged are sectoral, truncated, sometimes conflicting and above all not legally binding with lack of a legal framework for asserting national economic sovereignty over crop genetic resources. At the practical level, the development and implementation of the various fragments of laws and policies have been impeded by: - (www.srdis.ciensin.columbia.edu). Ø Formulation and implementation of the laws and policies have traditionally tended to be a prerogative of the central governments which normally fail to involve the local people, resulting in lack of conservation responsibility at the community level. Ø Limitations of the existing laws which pay little attention to such important natural resources components as biodiversity in general and genetic resources in particular. Ø Inadequate implementation and enforcement mechanisms for laws and policies due to lack of logistic, financial and human resources. Ø Lack of proper co-ordination and integration mechanism for the many related and fragmented laws and policies which have evolved sectorally and have become compartmentalised. Ø The environmental policies of EAC member states does not recognize the role of youth in managing the environmental resources, for example, Tanzania national environmental policy emphasize much on the relevance of gender resource base, Tanzania national environmental policy insist much on involving the gender issues in managing the environmental resources, the policy does not state anything about the position of youth in planning and management of environmental resources. Other constraints are:- Ø The water in the lakes is getting more and more polluted. At the same time the demand for water is increasing with population growth and economic development. Effective and co-ordinated systems of integrated management of the water resources will be a crucial precondition for a sustainable socio-economic development in the Lake as well as promotion of water quality and quantity monitoring. Ø High population growth coupled with poor farming technologies, have resulted in the clearing of new land for agriculture, destroying natural forests, bush and woodland, exposing the land to water and wind erosion and affecting wildlife. Ø The strategy to counter these threats comprises of improving land use and natural resources planning with particular focus on urban expansion and promotion of proper land use management practices. Other focal areas are promotion of co-management of wildlife and the establishment of community forests, woodlots, forestation, tree planting schemes and agro forestry. Ø In the past, the lakes showed a very high diversity of fish. Today, many indigenous species, which provided cheap and easily available protein, have disappeared and alien species such as the Nile perch, have been introduced. Promotion of sustainable fishing policies, extension services and monitoring are some of the measures that need to be carried out. Ø Even though biological control has reduced water hyacinth noticeably, the plant is still negatively affecting local fishing, causing abundance of insect pests and hindering water transportation. The strategy implies intensification of water weed monitoring and control. Ø Nutrient inputs and waste from human industrial waste give rise to serious eutrophication. Wastewater treatment plants are either not installed or generally malfunctioning. Laws and regulations intended to control pollution are regularly outdated, their enforcement is weak and the penalties too small to act as an incentive for installing effective treatments systems (www.sida.se). THE WAY FORWARD/ SUGGESTIONS. To counter these threats the following should be done:- Ø Integrated waste management of solid wastes and discharges into the Lake needs to be undertaken. Reduction of point source pollution by strengthening industrial and municipal waste management in urban and industrial centres as well as regulations to reduce and control pollution from mines are other important measures. Farming methods that reduce the use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer need to be promoted (http://www.sida.se/). Ø To conduct national review of economic sectoral and environmental policies strategies and plans, to ensure the progressive integration of environmental and development issues. Ø To strengthen institutional structures to allow the full integration of environment and development issue at all levels of decision making, there should be involvement of concerned individuals groups and organization in decision making at all levels. Ø To alleviate and reduce poverty among the individuals, this will culminate much to rescue the environment from severe degradation where by the population will not rely much on stock resources of the mother nature as their standard of living would be improved. Ø To manage the ecosystem and use of natural resources sustainably. Ø There should be a paradigm shift of decision making from top – down approach to bottom – up approach, this will enable the local people to be fully integrated in planning and management of environmental resources. Ø Management of Trans-boundary resources should be highly emphasized among the EAC member’s states so as to attain efficiency and effective resource management within the region. Ø To improve or restructure the decision-making process so that consideration of socio-economic and environmental issues is fully integrated and a broader range of public participation assured. Recognizing that countries will develop their own priorities in accordance with their prevailing conditions, needs, national plans, policies and programmes. Ø Awareness creation should be encouraged, EAC member states should make a thoroughly information dissemination through providing environmental education from the centre to the grass roots, this will assists much in widening the environmental knowledge among the local community who are the main resource user, there should be a deliberate measures to initiate different environmental programs which will speed up the environmental knowledge base among the local community. Ø Political parties should participate fully in all efforts of making sure environmental sustainability is attained, environmental protection and management should be incorporated in their manifesto, and this will build more knowledge among the local community on the relevance of protecting our environment as a way of attaining environmental sustainability. CONCLUSION. Economic growth and poverty reduction strategy can not be attained with the marginalization of the Ecosystem people, that means, any plans for development should be done taking into consideration the local people, local people should be involved in decision making process, there should be a power scaling down where by local community can have power to plan and manage their environmental resources. By power scaling down local people will be wise in the utilization of their environmental resources.