EDITOR
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) on Saturday mobilized and attracted various stakeholders to commemorate the global Earth Hour awareness campaign day in South West Uganda by cleaning River Rwizi and planting bamboo trees along the riverbanks, which are beneficial for the environment.
WWF facilitated the global Earth Hour awareness campaign day to give every stakeholder sixty minutes to participate in the preservation and protection of River Rwizi and its environment by promoting bamboo planting along the river.
The global Earth Hour awareness campaign day of cleaning River Rwizi was presided over by the Bishop of Ankole Diocese, Associate Professor Rt. Rev. Sheldon Fred Mwesigwa, flanked by the Head of Partnerships, Policy, and Advocacy WWF, Rita Kyategeka, among other officials from the Ministry of Water and Environment.
Among those who participated in the campaign were Ankole Diocese, primary schools, Mbarara City Council leadership represented by Speaker Tashobya Karusya Bonny, the Secretary General of Abahumuza Development Group, Stephen Kebesa Tumuhairwe, the Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), among others.
The function was conducted under the theme: “Together for Improved Quality and Quantity of Our Fresh Water Resources.”
In his message, Assoc. Prof. Rt. Rev. Sheldon Fred Mwesigwa appreciated the Ministry of Water and Environment and WWF for initiating the Earth Hour global awareness campaign, which actively involves children.
He revealed that all religious leaders are committed to working with agencies concerned with the environment because when God created the universe, everything was good, but degradation and pollution started due to human activities, as seen today.
The Head of Partnerships, Policy, and Advocacy WWF, Ms. Rita Kyategeka, who represented the Country Director of WWF, urged everyone to be sensitive to the protection and preservation of water catchments and rivers, emphasizing that what is dumped in water bodies like River Rwizi eventually affects human health.
The General Secretary of Abahumuza Development Group, Stephen Kebesa Tumuhairwe, said that in partnership with WWF, they are celebrating the Earth Hour awareness campaign, an annual global initiative by WWF aimed at awakening people’s consciousness to honor and protect the environment.
Mbarara City Speaker, Tashobya Karusya Bonny, called upon the youth to join the global Earth Hour awareness campaign to conserve and protect all water catchments and bodies, including wetlands, to increase water flow in River Rwizi.
David Sancho Niwagaba, the Mbarara City Natural Resources Officer, stated that there will be continuous planting and growing of trees, ensuring that the planted bamboo trees are monitored to support the protection of River Rwizi.
