Kyankowe Primary School located in Tamu Division in Mityana Municipality will never be the same after Uganda’s electricity distributor UMEME launched a tree planting exercise there to encourage pupils learn how to promote and conserve the environment.
The exercise aimed at planting fruit trees at the school and eucalyptus on 5.5 acres land outside the school was attended by a crowd which included pupils, teachers, political leaders, religious leaders, UMEME staff and the media.
Second to be launched was UMEME’s Safety Club at the school in commemoration of the World Day for Safety and Health at work. The club has membership of the school’s pupils who are passionate about environmental protection.
The launch of the Club was symbolically carried out by Mityana Woman MP Judith Nabakooba and Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Yahaya Kakooza. The two leaders officially launched the Club by planting tree seedlings in the school’s green compound.
The two guests commended UMEME for its initiative to protect the environment through tree planting, pledging to support the initiative. They, however, asked UMEME and its partner-Uganda Timber Growers Association (UTGA) to extend the same initiative to other schools.
MP Nabakooba urged parents and schools in the district to sensitise children on the need for environmental protection at an early age, which she said, makes them appreciate the value of natural habitats like forests. She added that it helps them grow up knowing they have the responsibility to protect the ecosystem.
On vandalisation of UMEME’s properties like transformers and poles by unruly residents in the district, both MP Nabakooba and RDC Kakooza urged them to stop the bad habit with immediate effect.
“Much as it is UMEME’s responsibility to gives us power, the facilities are as good as ours,” Kakooza said, lauding the company for boosting its communication channels as staff there interface with the public. That was re-echoed by MP Nabakooza who appreciated the value of toll free lines.
Ibrahim Katerega, the Mayor of Tamu Division was all praises for UMEME for introducing the tree planting project at Kyankowe Primary School, saying it will help the young children to learn how to protect the environment but also that it will boost greenery at the school he says was founded by his grandfather, the late Solomon Gyagenda over 80 years ago.
Edward Ssebukyu, the Commissioner for private schools and institutions in the ministry of education said it was important that children participate in conserving the environment from an early stage at the government requires all schools to plant trees in their compounds and gardens for environmental sustainability as well as provision of oxygen and uptake of carbon dioxide.
UMEME’s Head of CSR and Stakeholder Relations Manager, Stella Ndiwalana, said the tree planting exercise is part of the CSR program in partnership with Nature Uganda, dubbed U-Green which is centred around inspiring community action on environmental conservation and demonstrate how it can be integrated into their livelihoods.
This program also links directly to implementing the Government goal on afforestation and reforestation of Uganda’s landscapes and adaptation to climate change. She said Umeme take cognizance of the vital role forestation plays in ensuring power supply in a country that is heavily reliant on hydropower. She hoped the children at the school will use the initiative to appreciate the value of conserving the environment at an early stage.
The Acting Headmaster of the school, Peter Galiwango, lauded UMEME for choosing the school to launch the first-ever tree planting initiative in Mityana district.
“We are really grateful for choosing Kyankowe Primary School for the “U-Green Project”, Galiwango said, and appreciated the role played by UMEME ”U-Green Army’, made of staff who have been spearheading tree planting in schools including in Mukono district but also have plans to expand the initiative to the districts of Masaka, Mbarara and others.
During the launch of the tree planting initiative at the school, the pupils entertained guests with songs and a poem on electricity-regarding its uses, dangers and urged people never to interfere with the power lines.
Rev. Mark Kakuba of Ssaala-Kyankowe Parish led the prayers at the event as he asked God to help Ugandans protect their environment.
