RUBANDA, UGANDA – The Chairperson of the Practical Climate Change Responses (PCCR), Ms. Asiimwe Mourine, has urged local communities to intensify their efforts in environmental conservation.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Mourine issued this call during a climate change sensitization meeting and the distribution of 743 tree seedlings to members of the Ikamiro Community Land Care Association in Rubanda District.
At a Wednesday meeting in Ikamiro, Muko Sub-County, seedlings of Coffee, Grevillea, Cariadira, and Maesopsis eminii were distributed to local activists to combat soil erosion.
Mourine commended the Ikamiro Community Land Care Association for its significant role in mobilizing the community to undertake activities that prevent upland soils from washing into Lake Bunyonyi and other low-lying areas.
Earlier, the team visited demonstration sites showcasing conservation activities. These included tree plantations, check dams designed to slow water runoff, and environmental conservation projects at local schools.
During the site visits, the Coordinator of the Ikamiro Community Land Care Association, Mr. Johnbosco Habyarimana, stated that the association had made considerable progress in mobilizing communities to protect and conserve the environment.
He confirmed that their interventions have brought hope for environmental restoration, particularly in preventing topsoil from being washed away by runoff into Lake Bunyonyi.
One beneficiary, Mr. Philmon Byekwaso of Katembe Village, recounted how a heavy downpour on September 26, 2017, eroded his topsoil into the lake.
The Association’s intervention provided him with tree seedlings, enabling him to rehabilitate and resume use of his land, which had become unusable.
The Head Teacher of Ikamiro Primary School, Mr. Peter Sanyu, said the school has engaged in conservation activities to educate learners, who can then motivate their parents.
He also highlighted that the school now cultivates vegetables in its own compound, providing a direct source of fresh produce to help nourish the learners.
At the gathering, the best-performing individuals in caring for previously planted trees were awarded with forked hoes to motivate continued community participation.
The project focuses on sustainable land practices to prevent soil erosion, protecting Lake Bunyonyi’s ecosystem from sedimentation, and building climate resilience through community action.
The event was supported by Rubanda District technical staff, including Mr. Twinamatsiko Nichols, the Agricultural Officer for Muko Sub-County, and Mr. Archibald Mutaremwa.
They advised conservationists to adopt practices that are both environmentally beneficial and supportive of their livelihoods.
These conservation activities follow recent observations of Lake Bunyonyi’s water color changing from clear blue to a murky yellow-brown, a shift attributed to soil erosion driven by deforestation and poor farming practices.
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