“No matter how dark the cloud, there is always a thin, silver lining, and that is what we must look for. The silver lining will come, if not to us then to next generation or the generation after that. And maybe with that generation the lining will no longer be thin.” ― Wangari Maathai, Unbowed: A Memoir
On Monday March 3rd, Viatores Christi’s partners all over Uganda are holding special events to mark Africa Environment & Wangari Maathai Day, established by the Organisation of African Unity in 2002 as a way of raising awareness of the pressing environmental challenges facing the continent. They are engaging in a variety of environmental awareness and protection activities, aimed at protecting our common home, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as paying tribute to the late Prof. Wangari Maathai’s green legacy.
In communities, dispersed across wide geographical areas of Uganda, teams have been planning how to commemorate this special day for some time. Below, is a snapshot of some of the activities being planned:
SHS Weaver Nest Teacher Training Institute in Moyo Uganda will be;
- Participating in a cleaning exercise around the school environment to create awareness of the need for environmental management.
- Taking an environmental walk.
- Highlighting the major environmental challenges that need to be addressed in order to preserve the local environment.
Foundation of Hope Organisation (FOHO), Masaka, Uganda will engage with Masaka District Local Government to:
- Conduct community engagement and awareness around Fruit Tree planting and forest restoration
- Conduct an environmental educational campaign through sport on the importance of afforestation and reforestation by encouraging community -participation in tree planting
- General Cleaning –waste management at Namirembe landing site where Farmers cut trees to plant pineapples.
- Raise awareness of environmental issues.
- Tree planting along the road from Namirembe to Masaka Town.
- Environmental campaign through sport at Buna playground in Masaka.
St. Francis Family Helper Programme in Mbarara Uganda, (SFFHP), the plan is for staff and students to:
- Clean a part of Mbarara town.
- Engage in tree planting
- Team have a banner for the occasion-
- “MARKING AFRICA ENVIRONMENT & MANGARI MAATHAI DAY. 3rd MARCH 2025 AFRICANS, LET US PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT”.
Sacred Heart Sisters (SHS) Development Office, Kampala Uganda plan to;
- Engage in tree planting at the Noviciate in Namugongo, Kampala.
- The team will soon be launching the establishment of coffee and cocoa nursery bed, component of SHS Development Programme office for initiating Climate Smart agricultural productivity to support the vulnerable youth in Byeyale refugees host communities.
Caritas Kampala Co-Ops Office, Uganda plan to;
- Clean Kabalagala market on March 3rd. The activity is intended to sensitise the public about the importance of living in a clean and healthy environment, despite the challenges.
- In the bid to sensitise the public on environmental protection, the team have developed a banner with a message about Africa Environment and Wangari Maathai day which will be hung at the entrance of the market.
- This will be accompanied with the speeches and sensitisation around the importance of environmental conservation.
- Donate dustbins to the market authorities for proper waste disposal.
- Distribute reflector jackets marking the day (see below) to participants in the clean-up, as well as non-participants.
Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) Hoima Uganda will build on their success in achieving 2nd place in the Misean Cara Climate Awards, 2024, by
- Engaging in more tree planting.
- The JPC team have also made an educational video to mark the occasion and highlight the importance of trees.
Diocese of Muhabura, Kisoro Uganda plan to:
- Engage in sensitisation for environmental conservation.
- General cleaning of Kisoro Municipality, Diocesan Compound and the Muhabura Vocational Training Centre will also participate in this event.
- Sensitise students on the environmental concerns both locally, nationally and internationally.
- Plans are also being developed in the Education Department-Kiyinda Mityana Diocese, where staff and students will mark the day.
