Busoga Diocese launch tree planting, cleaning campaign to preserve environment

Iganga, (UG):- In a bid to preserve the environment in Busoga sub-region, the Central Busoga Diocese has launched a tree planting program dubbed Environment Climate Call to Action Movement that is aimed at piloting a campaign against bad practices of degrading the environment, as well as a campaign geared towards emphasizing community hygiene by cleaning the town.

Led by the Diocesan Bishop Rt. Rev. Patrick Wakula, the diocese in conjunction with Iganga Municipal Council aims at planting over 5,000 trees, some of which were donated by Uganda Forestry Authority (UFA), and the public were urged to take part in the campaign.

This is a call which was earlier commissioned by the Archbishop Church of Uganda the most Rev Stephen Samuel Kazimba Mugalu.

A number of trees were planted, coupled with cleaning the town of Iganga in an exercise that was joined by local leaders from Iganga, school children from the neighbouring schools of Iganga town and the general public.

At the launch that took place at St. Peters Church Kasokoso in Iganga town on Friday, Bishop Wakula rallied all religious leaders and the public to emphasize the campaign, saying issues of environment conservation don’t involve differences in religion or political parties, citing that a good environment favours everyone regardless of any difference. He tasked churches to ensure that tree planting becomes a priority at all church functions.

“God gave man the mandate to take care of all things on earth after creation. There man has the mandate to control and contain the environment and let us commission ourselves to this purpose because it is our task,” Bishop Wakula said before reading Genesis 1:11, where God commanded for the existence of green plants which bear fruit, in the story of creation.

The chief cleaner at the function, who is also the principal of Makerere University Business School (MUBS) Jinja Campus, Dr Veronica Mukyala says the campaign also aimed at minimizing environmental pollution and creating awareness to the public about environmental conservation and cleanliness both in homes and in public places.

She quoted the need to ensure environmental protection saying; “We need to please God by taking care of the environment and this should not apply to the Anglican Church but to every denomination and in our homes where we come from.”

“We need to get into eco-friendly businesses as youths and we don’t need to destroy trees because it worsens the temperatures like what we experienced recently,” Dr. Mukyala added.

The Mayor of Iganga Municipal Council Mr. Bamu Lulenzi warned the public against destroying the trees planted in the town saying they will be handled by the tough hand of the law since they will be against environmental preservation.

Mr Lulenzi commended the Bishop for getting involved in the campaign geared toward fighting environmental pollution.

Meanwhile, the chairperson of NRM Iganga district Hajji Walubi Abubakar reminded the people about the usefulness of the environment and pledged before the Bishop to take part in promoting the environment through planting trees and other environmentally friendly activities. He tasked people to protect the trees planted, especially those planted within the town.

Rev. Can. Alfred Bolya from St. Peters church and one of the organizers of this campaign says they have come up to protect the environment and at least 6,000 tree seedlings are at the church ready to be given out to the community for planting.

He urged people to visit the church and pick the trees for planting as a way of preserving the environment.