Green Army calls for tough measures to protect the environment

Pupils and students from over 40 schools who attended the 4th International Children’s Climate Change Conference (ICCCC) 2017 and Earth Day at Kampala International School Uganda (KISU) yesterday (Saturday) called on the authorities to put tough measures to protect and preserve nature.

Children who presented said there is a need to fight encroachments on swamps, forests, rivers and lakes as well as national parks if nature is to be preserved.

“Using less paper saves trees. When you have to print, use less paper by printing on both pages” – Rudra from Kampala Parents School reasoned out.

The Minister of State for Environment Hon. Kitutu Kimono Mary Goretti who was the chief guest called on pupils to plant more trees to be able to make the environment greener.

“I am playing a practical role. Today, I brought trees for you to take home and make your environment greener,” Minister Kitutu said.

She said the government is putting tough measures to fight encroachments on nature and as directed by the president, all people who encroached on swamps and forests are to vacate by July this year.

Hon. Kitutu closed off the conference with tree planting exercise to show a practical example to pupils of what they should do.

“Industries benefit from the environment. They should plant trees and protect water bodies to reverse their effect. As NEMA, our goal is to ensure that wetlands which are not yet touched remain like that”

“Everybody is a custodian for wetlands for the common good. Ownership is for all Ugandans,” Deputy Director National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Uganda.

Steve Lang, Director of Kampala International School Uganda (KISU)told children at the conference, “Do more than our generation did to protect environment, this is your time to act,”

Delegation from Rwanda’s Little Go Green also attended the conference and challenged the Ugandan government to do more and fight against environment degradation. They reasoned out why the government has failed to completely ban use of polythene bag like it is in Rwanda.

Joseph Masembe, the Uganda’s Little Hands Go Green boss said he was happy to see a massive attendance at the conference and said the future is in the hands of young generation. Uganda’s Little Hands Go Green partnered with Kampala International School Uganda, National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), National Forestry Authority (NFA), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and NBS Television to organise the successful conference.