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.

 

 

IDEAS FOR MAKERERE INDUCTS FRESHMEN

This orientation week at Makerere University, our IDEAS For Makerere chapter has taken new roots! Each day that comes, the chapter has made it a routine to introduce the concept of #Environmental sustainability# to the new students through open campaigns and peer to peer engagement. In this way, the chapter has recruited hundreds of freshmen!

IDEAS for MAKERERE president Mr.Matovu Paul welcoming the freshmen.

Yesterday, 16^th September 2013 IDEAS for Makerere in partnership with the Forestry Association of Makerere University ( F.A.M.U)  organized a workshop for the freshmen in the  Main Conference hall of the  school  Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences. 

Forestry Association for Makerere University ( FAMU) president 
orienting the Freshmen and women.

The workshop was based on environmental sustainability through proper waste management, maintaining water quality, conserving the planet’s ecology, use of clean energy and reducing emissions from agriculture to meet international food standards.

Among other items, the participating members helped in the development of the IDEAS For Makerere work plan for this semester. More think tanks are yet to be held to discuss waste management, reforestation and wildlife conservation strategies for this academic year. 

THINK TANKS OPEN MINDS; BUDUDA CITIZENS WELCOME TREE PLANTING

For the past 5 days, the IDEAS for Uganda team led by Central region coordinator Matovu Paul and the IDEAS for Makerere General secretary Ngolobe Michael has been engaging  the Bududa people in  Think Tanks to find solutions to the ever increasing environmentaldisasters ( landslides and hailstorm).Among the villages where # Think Tanks# were hosted include Bushiswabula, Wakoli, Narundi,Wamaisaba, Nakalwa,Nabuyoka,Lusola,Bulatse,Namurumba,Nabooti,Shibanga,ShilakanoBumayoka.In all these villages, hundreds attend our Think Tanks.

some of the people who attended the Think Tanks

These #Think Tanks# are helping! Through interaction with the people, we have come to realize that people sleep hungry because they lost almost all their crops. Everyone is looking for a lasting solution to the landslide and 90% agree that reforestation and better farming techniques will save the situation.

It should be remembered that since 1964, the people of Bududa have been experiencing landslides with the most disastrous being that of 1964 (which led to migration of some Bamasaba to Kayunga and other districts) and the 2010 mudslide that killed many and left others homeless.

Heavy down pour as we conducted the Think Tanks.Such heavy rains have left many dead and we were scared that we would fall victims! Thank God we didnt

Elder seconds tree planting

Following the August 2013 hailstorm which swept two sub counties of Bumayoka and Bushiyi, IDEAS for Uganda /IDEAS for Us in liason with our partners (Green coatings, Renewable Resources, Sarah’s Ohmnigate Orphanage among other American environmental and humanitarian organisations) have been working around the clock to help the people of Bududa overcome shock and stress caused by the series of disasters in their district and also control future occurrence of landslides basing on the five pillars of environmental sustainability i.e. food, ecology waste management, water and power.

In our next session we shall discuss how we can help these people help themselves.

#Thanks to Dani and all the local leaders to the mobilization and interpretation#

IDEAS REACHES-OUT TO BUDUDA HAILSTORM VICTIMS

Bududa district created in 2006 from Mbale district. It lies approximately 5900ft above sea level and blessed with many cliffs, water falls, ridges and streams and the Mt. Elgon forest occupying about 40%  of the district

 Masereka Adiddas at one of the waterfalls in Masakanu village

. With 16 sub counties, Bududa had a population of 146000 persons at the time of its creation.

Sadly, the people of Bududa have wiped unending tears since 1997 when the first landslide occurred in Nametse killing 5 people from the same family. This was followed by that of Bunamboka in 1999. The most tragic event was that of 2010 in the villages of Namtetse, Kachonga, Masimasa, Kubewo and Nankobe which left over 100 people dead and thousands displaced.

This year, on 25th/August a new disaster befell the people of Bududa which created controversy as some reporters called it a landslide and others a mudslide. This ignited the IDEAS for Uganda team to travel there and find out what had happened, the possible causes and solutions.


Shalakano village  as at 10th/ August/2013 soon after the hailstorm

IDEAS for Uganda team arrives at Bukalasi subcounty of  Bududa district

Nametse village where hundreds lost there lives and a lot of property lost in 2010

We surveyed about 10 villages, climbing hills we had never thought of before reaching the village affected by the 2013 disaster. On our way, we observed that poor farming techniques were common among the Bamasaba! This was compounded by  Land fragmentation, poor settlement patterns and deforestation of steep slopes. In addition, no contours/terraces could be observed on the extensively tilled slopes which probably renders them prone to mass wasting(downslope movement of soil and rock in response to gravity triggered by excessive water content).

The two sub counties  of Bumayoka and Bushiyi which were hit by the hail storm, which is said to have been about three feet from the ground could expose the details of land fragmentation in this district. From a distance, small portions of gardens could be observed. On would think that the place had been set on fire! Cassava, banana, coffee, maize, onion, and sweet potatoes plantations were all destroyed by the hail storm and what remained is bare ground which makes the affected hills susceptible to mass wasting once heavy rains come!

Unstable rock in Masakanu village.

"I am scared that landslides may sweep my house. My coffee, banana, two maize plantations, and cassava were all washed away and all I have now is my house. I am not sure whether I will feed tomorrow!" said Mafabi Wantsusi, a resident of Imuti village in Burafura village.

Coffee plantation destroyed by the hailstorm

Having listened to the outcry of Mafabi and many others in his category, IDEAS for Uganda immediately held a Think Tank at Bumayoka trading center where the community members highlighted the possible causes of landslides and solutions to this. The IDEAS for Uganda team led by Masereka Adiddas sensitized the people about afforestation, contour ploughing and warned them of settling on disaster prone areas especially steep and rocky  slopes.


Banana plantation severely hit by the hailstorm in Burafura parish on 13th/08/2013

Whereas the dwellers of Bududa contend that the landslides are caused by volcanicity, there was no evidence to prove this! Not even the other factors like liquefication, seismicity, glacier melting or blasting could have caused the 2010 Namatse landslides and the those of 2012.what is evident is the poor farming practices, poor settlement partners, and loss of vegetation cover through cultivation, settlement and deforestation and the landslides are eventually triggered by the heavy rains.

Land fragmentation in the Imuti village which was hit by the hail storm

WAY FORWARD

IDEAS for Uganda agreed with the Bamasaba of Bududa to plant more trees, especially the indigenous species like Markhamia lutea, Albisia species, Ficus species and Prunus africana to hold the soil together.We also called for resettlement of the people to safer places in the lo land area.
We plan to have a sensitization project about good and sustainable farming techniques and advise farmers to embrace terracing as opposed to land fragmentation.
Food relief is require. People lost their crops and they have nothing to feed on at the moment.

More Think Tanks are expected in the coming weeks to come up with an action plan to help save these people from future disasters through reforestation, ecosystem and restoration

Think Tanks in Bududa

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IDEAS Adivisor Sinamakosa Isaac observing Eucalyptus planted by locals in Bukalasi sub county which suffered a landslide in 1999

‘’IDEASForUganda DECIDES ON THE NEXT STEP”.

The IDEASForUganda President, Mr.Masereka Adidas, Advisor Mr.Sinamakosa Isaac and Central Region Coordinator Mr.Matovu Paul on 07/04/2013 had a productive day in Kampala discussing the way forward for IDEAS Movement.

Among others, the following issues were discussed; Challenges facing the fast progress of the movement, Achievements already registered and Way forward.

CHALLENGES

·         Un streamlined communication strategy with chapters whereby some questions are left un answered raised by chapter members.

·         Laxity in implementing actions by chapters.

·         Limited information about Thunder clap by chapter

·         Busy schedules by students especially during examination periods that affect the performance curve.

·         Inadequate finance to facilitate IDEAS in form of Internet, ICT Materials like cameras, laptops, and coordination costs like transport, and holding timely meetings with chapters by the Directors.

ACHIEVEMENTS.

The following were sighted as achievements safar registered;

·         The steady establishment of Chapters in the country as well as mobilization for more youths to join the movement was so amazing. Six(6) active  University chapters and Fifteen (15) community chapters already formed.

·         Recognition of IDEASForUganda as one of the potential stakeholders in Environmental conservation campaign. To justify this, IDEAS has been invited on several occasions in celebrating environmental focused days with other organizations like; FAMU, JEEP, Environmental alert, Jelliton, among others.

WAYFORWARD (NEXT STEP)

Strategically, members agreed on the following as next plan for the smooth running of IDEAS in Uganda;

·         Planning for and scheduling a meeting with PVI partners. The meeting was scheduled for 20^th/04/2013

·         Beginning actions majorly clean-ups by all chapters.

·         Creating at least 100 IDEAS chapters in schools and communities by December 2013.

·         Organizing for a joint chapters meeting by September, 2013.

·         Fundraising locally and internationally for IDEAS activities to strengthen the movement.

·         IDEAS Directors to make weekly calls to all chapter co-presidents/heads.

·         Chapter co-presidents developing quarterly work plans by 18^th/04/2013.

·         IDEAS Directors to submit weekly reports to African IDEAS Coordinator/Director.

·         Reminding all stakeholders about IDEASForUganda work plan, developed months ago.

·         Technically empowering and engaging all established chapters to take actions.