On 24th April, 2025; NEMA’s Executive Director Barirega Akankwasah, PhD made the remark during the engagement of the first batch of leaders from cultural institutions in Uganda.

Furthermore, the cultural institutions were tasked to work together to mobilize communities through cultural festivals to conserve the environment by tree planting initiatives and work together to protect the environment.

This engagement is aimed at;
1. Creating and inclusive environmental protection.
2. Raising awareness amongst cultural institutions on their roles and responsibilities in environmental protection.
3. Providing an over view of the national state of the environment.
4. Identifying key areas for collaborations.

Key areas of possible collaboration identified included;
1. Joint management of plastic pollution,
2. Awareness creation,
3. Capacity building, and
4. preservation and protection of cultural sites.

Ministers from five kingdoms in Uganda, namely; Tooro, Busoga, Buganda, Banyala and Buruuli represented. In addition, the King from Bunyala Kingdom attended in person and graced the occasion. Other Kingdoms to be engaged in the second batch.

This engagement strengthened the relationship between NEMA and cultural institutions, laying the groundwork for long-term cooperation.