Buganda Kingdom state Minister for Tourism Ritah Namyalo Kisitu has asked the youth especially those in higher Institutions of learning to join government and other conservation agencies to promote environmental conservation in the country.
She said that the country’s environment is being degraded at high rate, something that calls for everyone’s intervention because the country’s key sectors such Agriculture, Tourism, Energy among others depend on nature.
“The youth especially in universities and other higher institutions should join government in promoting the conservation of nature through sensitizing the public about the dangers of environmental degradation or coming up with innovations that can mitigate the negative Impacts associated with Environmental degradation such as climate change,” she said.
The minister made the remarks at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre Entebbe during the International Day of Peace, an event which was organized by the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda office. The Minister observed that peace cannot prevail in country where there is environmental destruction.
Jane Goodall Institute is an International Organization working in Uganda to help conserve and protect the Wild Chimpazee population and to promote the conservation of the natural environment.
Roots and Shoots clubs
Speaking at the same event, the Jane Goodalls Institute Environment Education and Roots & Shoots officer Apophia Jemima Arikiriza said the Institute is partnering with primary, secondary schools and higher institutions of learning to ensure that pupils and students embrace conservation of nature through its environmental education programme.
“As an Organization, we have established over 149 Roots and Shoots clubs in primary, secondary schools across the country where we operate and we are also working with Nkumba University.
“This programme has empowered the students through these clubs with nature conservation information. To ensure that the whole country is covered, the institute plans to open more clubs in other districts to educate the younger generation about the importance of nature conservation,” she said.
The objective of the programme is to ensure that every child leaves primary school with good basic understanding of the nature so that they are able to make informed decision concerning the environment.
BY SAMUEL NABWIISO
