A campaign targeting students in schools across Buyende district has been launched as a deliberate effort to conserve the environment and mitigate climate change, which is a global challenge.
The campaign spearheaded by Mangaraine Sharif, one of the aspirants for the Buyende District LC5 chairperson seat, was launched at Kidera Secondary School on Friday.
“Our generation has witnessed an era of our fathers cutting down trees for charcoal as an economic activity for them to earn a living,” Mangaraine told Busoga Times.
“This practice has been done for decades without thinking about the increasing dangers and threats to the environment, like drought,” he added.
“The threat to the environment explains our urgency to initiate to emphasise the need for environmental protection that has never been greater,” he explained.
He revealed that they are launching the project “in schools because we must intentionally teach and model the practice to children, fostering an understanding and appreciation for it through various methods.”
Mangaraine explained that the tree planting exercise will be a big part of his 2026-2031 manifesto under the theme Tutereze Buyende.
“It’s the reason why we are working with the young people to change the world for a positive change under our new project, one student, one tree. Our mission is to inform, educate, enable and create a platform for urgent environmental action,” he elaborated.
Once a well-endowed district with natural forests, swamps, and streams, Buyende has lost its vegetation due to human activities, especially charcoal burning.
Charcoal burning is a leading economic activity in the district. Trees, including fruit trees, have been cut down to make charcoal and firewood, leading to the depletion of forests.
“Now, accessing firewood is a problem which is being faced in the communities. Remember these people cannot afford biogas or electricity to prepare a simple meal,” Mangaraine said.
