Defender of the Pearl:Ndyakira Amooti

The issue of environmental degradation is one that every country must deal with. With degradation come pollution, physical destruction, and wildlife destruction to name a few. There are also the troubles of diseases, sickness, starvation, and overpopulation that we all must face and deal with. Life comes down to making a living, and taking care of one’s self…or does it? This is not true for a Ugandan man named Ndyakira Amooti.
Uganda was once known as “The Pearl of Africa” because of the magnificent variety of wildlife and scenic beauty. During the 1970’s under Idi Amin’s regime Uganda was torn apart by civil unrest. It was during that time that the wildlife was slaughtered and sold, and the natural resources that the Pearl was known for were pillaged and destroyed(1). “Forests were felled and burned, poaching went unpunished—and the pearl lost its luster”(2). In a period of about 15 years Amin’s regime was toyed back and forth between other regimes, teari...