IDEASForUganda PARTICIPATE IN THE CORPORATE NATIONAL TREE PLANTING EVENT.

During the last Earth week 2014, The President of Uganda H.E Yoweri  Kaguta  Museveni  and the Speaker of parliament Hon. Rebecca Kadaga took lead in the annual  corporate tree !!

President Yoweri Museveni, Launches, the corporate tree planting project.

 In his speech on the opening ceremony of the Go Green project on 22nd April (Earth Day), President Museveni promised to take more stringent measures on environmental protection, and in the same way reminded the National forestry Authority to protect forests on both public and private land.

The Parliament of Uganda speaker,Minister of Environment Ephraim Kamuntu, other government dignatories and CSO Members,IDEAS Inclunsive pose for a group photo.

Meanwhile, the Hon. Speaker of parliament promised to encourage all parliamentarians to participate in the environmental sustainability Campaigns, to assist in planting trees along the major highways of the country.
Among the sponsors were  Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) as the main partner and the leading corporate organizations and companies including National Forestry Authority (NFA), Saw log Production Grant Scheme(SPGS), Uganda Wildlife Authority, WWF, NEMA, National Housing, World Food Program, USAID, Bank of Uganda, Cairo International Bank, Sanlam Insurance, Century Cinema, Civil  Aviation Authority, Coca cola,  Fresh cuts, and media houses including UBC, NTV, The New Vision, Red Pepper, Bukedde newspaper among others.

Kyambogo University IDEAS Chapter Co-president Mr.Kule Brian preparing to offload tree seedlings for planting

Many thanks to Edwin Muhumuza  and James Okwi of Youth Go Green, Nkusi Gerald of ALCDI Uganda, and all the IDEAS For Uganda volunteers for making this project a success. We look forward to future projects and partnerships.Over 20000 trees will be planted by different partners.

Central region coordinator,IDEASForUganda Mr.Matovu Paul welcoming participants at the event venue.

MPIGI RESIDENT DISTRICT COMMISSIONER APPLAUDS I.D.E.A.S FOR UGANDA DURING NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY DAY

 On 21^st March 2014 thousands of Ugandans gathered at St.Kizito grounds in Mpigi district to commemorate the International Forestry Day. 

Theme of the day

The event commenced with a band-march from St.Kizito to the main town round-about. In his speech as the representative of the chief Guest Hon. Ephraim Kamuntu, the RDC asserted and I quote;

“I have learnt of the wonderful work done by an environmental Organization called IDEAS for Uganda, IDEAS are you here….? Come up front and I give you more IDEAS. I am suggesting to you that in addition to the IDEAS you have, I the RDC of Mpigi hereby send you out there to mobilise and train other Civil society organizations to develop new sources of energy, specifically clean energy to create an alternative to wood fuel. I and you will talk about more ideas when we meet for a discussion. Go and spread IDEAS”

IDEASFORUGANDA AT A GLANCE

The day was marked with Ceremonial tree planting while 1000 seedlings were given out to community tree growing groups and individuals in Mpigidisctrict, courtesy of Tree Talk Foundation Uganda. Starting next week, we shall be carry out enrichment planting of 5ha in Navugulu Central Forest reserve. 

Students of st.Kizito matching

Thanks to all development partners and stakeholders including  The ministry of Water and environment, the Forest sector Support department, Environmental Alert, Care Uganda, ACODE, FAMU, Saw log Production Grant Scheme (SPGS), Tree Talk Foundation and all the IDEAS volunteers to making this day a success. See you all when we return to plant 5 hectares Navugulu central Forest Reserve.

Some of the IDEASForMakerere chapter members at the Function posing for a photo.In the middle is the Central region coordinator,Mr.Matovu Paul

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#