MUHANGA - Leaders and stakeholders in environmental protection in the Southern Province have been urged to come up with strategies to address issues of climate change within the Nile Basin.

Muhanga District Vice-Mayor, Innocent Ryumugabe, made the call while opening a consultative workshop on climate change held at CEPAF centre on Wednesday.

Speaking on behalf of the Provincial Governor, Fedel Ndayisaba, Ryumugabe said: "Changes in the climate system has caused severe effects like destructive rains and drying of swamps.”

He cited past floods triggered by heavy rains, drought and earthquakes as some of the effects of climate change.

John Walter Gakumba, coordinator of the Rwanda Nile Basin Discourse Forum (NBDF), an NGO, said that there is need for financial support for African Government countries to deal with issues of climate change.

"Sensitisation campaigns need to be accompanied by budgetary support to address issues of climate change and biodiversity,” he said.

The workshop attracted various local organisations, cooperatives, and opinion leaders in the province, who promised to disseminate the knowledge learnt from the workshop.

The workshop organised by Cooperative Services- UGAMA CSC, in collaboration with NBDF was meant to address issues related to environment challenges especially in the province.

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