IDEAS JOINS CONSERVE TO SAVE TREE PLANTING CAMPAIGN

October, 25^th, 2013, shall always be remembered in the history of Kisoro District in south western Uganda. This was a day when Hundreds of citizens witnessed Conserve to save tree planting campaign being launched with an aim of conserving nature and mitigating climate change impact through absorption of carbon from the atmosphere. The theme was “Tree planting and conducting road safety sensitization measures on Kabale-Kisoro Road”.

IDEAS TEAM WALKING TO THE LAUNCH VENUE IN KISORO TOWN

This function was organized by ALCDI Uganda, which invited several other organizations with related objectives to join and participate in the campaign like; Ten(10) men and women who represented IDEAS for Uganda, Nature Uganda, National Forestry Authority, Uganda Red Cross society, Uganda National Roads Authority, Uganda Wildlife Authority, National Environment Management Authority, government bodies like the Uganda Police, Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and the Ministry of water and environment. The local communities and many primary and secondary schools in Kisoro district were as well part of this great function.

Students moving around town on a sensitization campaign

Conserve to save tree planting campaign was launched by the Minister of Water and Environment, Prof Kamuntu and the chief guest was Deputy Inspector General of Police Dr. Kasima Aryatuha. It was also attended by the Resident District Commissioner of Kisoro district Mr. Doka.

UPDF Marching with students on a campaign

Tree planting was then done in Kanaba, Kyanankye and Gasheregenyi in Nyakabande sub-county, along Kabale-Kisoro road, where 7000 trees were planted along a stretch. The tree species that were planted under conserve to save tree planting campaign included; Eucalyptus grandis and Kabaka njagala that were provided by the National Forestry Authority. All activities of this great function were broadcasted on Uganda Broadcasting Cooperation (UBC) TV and on the Voice of Muhavura. The print media like the Daily Monitor and Yampe journal were part of this great Function.

IDEASForUganda Central region coordinator, among other participants

WORLD TOURISM DAY

  IDEAS FOR NKUMBA AWARDED FOR WORLD TOURISM DAY CELEBRATIONS 

This Friday 27^th 2013 has been the World Tourism Day and celebrations have been on-going globally. Here in Uganda, the national celebrations  organized by the ministry of  Tourism, wildlife and antiquities were held Booma Grounds in Fort Portal district western Uganda under the theme” Tourism and water, Protecting our common future.”




Miss Wildlife Uganda ( third from right), Mudenya Nelson  of IDEAS for Nkumba
 ( center), Mr. Wildlife (third fro left) and youth leaders show off the IDEAS for Uganda World tourism day banner

Poetry for water; IDEAS for Airforce presenting their poem

Likewise, IDEAS for Uganda Nkumba chapter joined hands with Entebbe Secondary school to organize special celebrations for the young people in Wildlife Clubs of Uganda (WLCU) hosted at Entebbe S.S main grounds. Over 30 secondary schools from around Uganda attended this ceremony and participated including Kibuli S.S, Kawempe Moslem, Jinja S.S, Mityana S.S, Kitante S.S, Rwakashingashe S.S from Bushenyi district, Airforce Secondary Schools, Masaba S.S from Mbale, among others and other Organisations like Shoe Bill Stork Foundation.

Students stand up to witness the " Dance to environment" battle.
IDEAS fpr Uganda track was one of the dance tracks.



 

 

The events of the day included poetry (coordinated by IDEAS for Airforce secondary school), tree planting and clean up exercises (coordinated by IDEAS for Nkumba), folk music from Rwakashingashe school, “Dance for Environment by various schools, Public lecture based on the theme “Tourism and Water, protecting our common future” (by Dr. Christopher Bakoneta of Makerere university) .

Among the focal areas empasised by Br. Bakoneta was the campaign for wetland protection, shift from Hydro-electric power to other sources of energy like solar and biogas so as to protect the scenic beauty of the “Pearl of Afica.”He also hinted on the need to protect lake Victoria from pollution by the Kalangala / Buvuma Island based BIDCO palm oil company and protection of water quality by shunning away from release of toxic chemicals into wetlands like Lutembe wetland in Wakiso. The doctor also warned students against GMOs!
 

Generally, much of peer to peer education was embedded in the various stage plays, folk music, dances and poems presented by the respective schools. Our own Mwesigye Julius from IDEAS for Air force secondary school won the prize of the best poem writer of the day! In addition, the best dance from was Entebbe secondary school which danced to the IDEAS for Uganda’s Rise and Shine composed by Lubwama.



WAKE UP UGANDA: Students of Rwakashingashe S.S presenting
an original composition about wetland protection.

The day was crowned by the awarding o a Certificate of participation to IDEAS for Nkumba by WCU handed to Hon. Mudenya Nelson and his vice Sanyu Phyby by Prof. Edrena himself! The professor promised to guide our young leaders from IDEAS for Nkumba in the environmental sustainability campaign.

Central region coordinator  Mr. Matovu Paul and IDEAS for Nkumba leaders show off
the certificate awarded to IDEAS for Nkumba by WLC.