Currently, it is estimated that Kampala Capital City generates over 2,000 tons of waste in a day which makes waste a major problem affecting over 3million residents that reside within the city.
With primary sources of municipal solid waste generation being private households, transient population, market places and hospitals this highlights the need for collaboration of all stakeholders to ensure that the environment is well conserved.
On Monday, Raising Gabdho Foundation with its partners interacted with members of Mt. Golgotha church environment club in Katale zone Makindye Lusaka to devise means on how they can preserve the environment and tackle the issue of waste management.
Accompanied by the zone Defense secretary, club members and the surrounding community members both refugees and Ugandans come together and managed to clean up several areas of this community and a reasonable amount of garbage was collected.
The defense secretary who also represented the area chairman applauded the foundation for this initiative and called upon KCCA to review its approches of waste management and make them inclusive to intergrate community engagement.
Hasina Nduhimama one of the leaders of this club noted that on top of this waste management campaign, the foundation has sensitized them about the various forms of good enviromental and energy consumption practices like use of charcoal briquettes and improved cooking solutions. The foundation supported some of the vulnerable members in the group with access to briquettes, improved cookstoves and slow cooking basket, this was a combined package to help them appreciate clean cooking and save resources.
“Lately we know how to make these briquettes, we no longer spend much on cooking they have really taught us a lot which has benefited this society” Nduhimana added.
She also welcomed the foundation’s proposal of equipping the women and youth with different skills for self reliance and she pleaded the groups support when it begins next year.
Pastor Paul the senior pastor of Mt. Golgotha Evangelical church thanked the organization for their support in improving the livelihoods of society members and also conserving the environment.
“This foundation has a vision to improve our livelihoods through sustainble practices, I pledge my full support to their projects because for the little time they have been with us we have learnt alot about enviroment good practices and we have hope that we are going to learn more.” the senior pastor added.
Before the general cleaning, the foundation engaged with club members on issues of Gender Based Violence as a commemoration of the 16 days of Activism to end violence against women and girls.
Members of the community were also involved in these discussions by exchanging ideas and coming up with reliable solutions which according to the foundation was a great mile stone in bringing together this community that involves both refugees and nationals.
Joan Nakiyini from Raising Gabdho Foundation said that their main aim in such projects within the community is not only to keep the environment clean but also preserving the eco-system.
“This clean up was their idea and they would want to take it up at least every month, we are proud that we now have ambassadors who can make masses aware of our mission.We advocate for environmnet protection through working with faithe based institution, schools and the local councils.”
This project is implemented by Raising Gabdho Foundation with support from Dan Church Aid in partnership with UNCHR and Office of the Prime Minister.
