Environment Literacy And Corporate Image
NEMA is positioned to be the principal environmental information custodian for the country. NEMA’s ability to generate and disseminate this information is critical for the public to first of all understand but also engage in sound environmental management as key stakeholders. This information is also important for government’s decision making related to environmental management. NEMA has put in place strategies for effective environmental information generation, packaging, education, and communication for purposes of sound environmental management. The Authority implemented the following actions to achieve environment literacy and corporate image:
- Enhance public environmental education.
- Establish systems for environmental information generation and management.
- Enhance digitisation of processes and use of Information Technology (IT) at NEMA
- Support implementation of the Global Action Plan (GAP) for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
- Enhance NEMA communication, visibility, and corporate image.
Environment education is a field of education that focuses on raising awareness and understanding of the environment and its various issues. It aims to provide individuals with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values necessary to become environmentally responsible citizens. Environmental education forms the basis of the Tbilisi Declaration which identified five main objectives, that is, awareness, knowledge, attitude, skills, participation, and actions (UNESCO-UNEP,1978). Similarly, environment awareness is a basis tool for protection of the environment. The awareness programme aims at creating awareness amongst general public and different segments of the society for minimising and controlling environmental pollution and degradation. The Authority been very strategically implemented education and awareness initiatives and activities to sensitize the public to protect the environment.
International Day of Biodiversity
NEMA commemorated the International Day of Biodiversity on 22nd May 2024. The celebrations were held in Kapchorwa District under the theme “Land restoration for Biodiversity resilience”. The National celebration emphasised the urgent need to restore land for climate resilience especially adaption for human well-being, wealth, and job creation as well as for sustainable socio-economic transformation. The national theme was in line with the Government Ten Year Plan of Action for Restoration of the Environment and Natural Resources (2021-2031), the National Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan.
Activities that were carried out include; restoration of River Kaptokwoi that had been degraded to improve on soil and water conservation and reduce the speed of run-off water thus reducing soil erosion, institutional greening of the Kapchorwa District headquarters including Elgon Primary school in the district to provide shade and act as wind breakers. The celebration also featured a ceremonial tree planting exercise of 3,877 assorted tree seedlings and bamboo. Hon. Aisha Sekindi, Minister of State for Water represented Hon. Sam Cheptoris, Minister of Water and Environment and graced the occasion.
World Tourism Day
NEMA participated in the celebration of World Tourism Day that took place on 27th September 2023 where it facilitated the Programme of environment education and environmental literacy in form of quizzes and drama. Twenty-three schools and four tertiary institutions selected from across the country participated. The platform was used to create awareness on best practices of environment messages and problems associated with environment degradation. The quiz questions focused on different environmental aspects to facilitate a multi-level engagement of learners. The message was critical to environmental issues on healthy and economic implications on tourism sector.
World Environment Day 2024
NEMA is mandated to coordinate the celebration of World Environment Day (WED) on behalf of the Government of Uganda. WED 2024 was celebrated under the theme ‘Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience’. In Uganda, national celebrations were held in Sironko District on 5th June 2024 under the national theme ’Land restoration for climate resilience’. The national celebration emphasized the urgent need to restore land for climate resilience especially adaption for human well-being, wealth, and job creation as well as for sustainable socio-economic transformation. The national theme was in line with the Government 10 Year Plan of Action for Restoration of the Environment and Natural Resources (2021-2031), the National Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan. WED 2024 was attended by approximately 3,000 people that included community members, schools, community leaders, CSOs, religious leaders, technical staff of government MDAs, political leaders and NEMA staff. The celebration was graced by the Prime Minister of Uganda Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja who represented H.E the President of Uganda. Several activities were carried out to sensitise and educate the community about protection of the environment.
More than 2,000 indigenous tree species and fruit trees provided by National Forestry Authority were planted. The tree planting was crowned by the state minister for Karamoja, and Sironko Woman MP, Hon. Florence Nambozo.
Media Engagements
Several pre-Wed media engagements were undertaken on both TV and radio stations, and social media to create environmental awareness. These included live broadcasts and talk shows of WED, spot messages on social media and breakfast meetings on TVs and radios. Television stations that were engaged included UBC, NTV, NBS TV, Salt TV, Bethany TV, URA TV while the radio stations were: Next Radio, Capital FM, CBS, Elgon Radio, Open Gate FM Mbale, Community Green Radio, Red Cross community radios, UAIA radios. Also engaged were New Vision and Daily Monitor, among others.
A national dialogue was held in Kampala at Protea Hotel. The dialogue was supported by Nature Uganda, Uganda Biodiversity Fund, Caritas Uganda and Jane Goodall Institute. The activity was both physical and virtual and attracted attendance of approximately 500 people physically while the virtual attendance was more than 1,000 people.
These were part of the activities to commemorate WED, 2024. National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in collaboration with the District Local Governments of Sironko and Kapchorwa, Caritas Uganda and Wildlife Clubs of Uganda organized the inter-schools’ environment competitions which included the baseline assessment of the schools which were selected to participate in the competitions. In addition to baseline assessment, the primary schools’ category participated in music dance and drama while the secondary school category participated in environment debate. The school competitions focused on the theme for WED,2024 which was “Land restoration for climate resilience” The objective of the school environment competitions was to create public awareness and build the capacity of future leaders in sustainable environment management practices. A total of 20 (11 Secondary and 9 Primary Schools) participated in the competitions where the winners were awarded with accolades The secondary schools that participated in the school environment competitions included; St Paul’s Comprehensive Kapchesombe, Sipi Secondary School, Sebei College, Sironko High School, Masaba Secondary School, Budadiri Girls Secondary School, Buhugu Secondary School, Gamatui Girls School, Bunguzu Seed Secondary School, Kapsirikwo Secondary school and Bugunzu secondary school. The primary schools that participated included; Siron Primary School, Ngangata Primary School, Kapteret Primary School, Salikwa Primary School, Nabenekwa Primary School, Budadiri Primary School, Kaserem Primary School, Kapsirikwo Primary School and Simupondo Primary School.
A clean up of Sironko Town was also organised. The clean-up activity was launched by the area Woman MP and minister for Karamoja Affairs Hon. Florence Nambozo.
NEMA hosted the National Environment Sustainability Awards (NESA) aimed at celebrating eco-friendly practices and innovations demonstrated by individuals, companies, organisations, and various stakeholders that positively impact the environment and promote sustainable development. Winners received prestigious accolades, while all nominees were awarded certificates of recognition. Awards were given in five sectors of Manufacturing, Waste Management, Petroleum, Non-state Actors, Lead Agencies, and Media Groups.
A total of 20 awardees received accolades, while all nominees received certificates of recognition. The award ceremony attracted more than 300 guests, including dignitaries from government MDAs, media houses, company representatives, NEMA staff, and other guests. The category of the awardees included; Manufacturing (Tanneries, Dry process, Cement, Steel works, Wet process, Sugar factories, Pharmaceutical Plants, Milk processing, Paint factories Food & beverages), Waste Management Facilities, Petroleum Companies (Upstream, Midstream, Downstream), Lead Agencies (Local Governments and MDAs), Non-State Actors (NGOs, Development Partners, Financial Institutions, Media Groups and Journalists.
The Authority started a campaign in urban areas on anti-littering and waste management. The campaign is intended to be used to sensitise the public and leaders about the current environmental issues with particular emphasis on anti-littering campaign and waste management. The campaign is expected to be carried out in all parts of the country. In the reporting period, the campaign was carried out in Greater Masaka districts (Masaka City, Kalungu District, Lukaya Town Council). The campaign was also conducted in Eastern region in Namawojjolo Roadside Market, Mbale City and Tororo District. District officials including town clerks, natural resources officers, town council mayors, resident district commissioners, and district chair persons were engaged. NEMA emphasised the issue of management and indicated that waste collection companies should be licensed by law, have appropriate vehicles for waste collection and transportation, and a need for urban centres to have waste management facility or landfill.
The Authority has continued to carry out robust media engagements on radios, televisions, and social platforms such as X, LinkedIn and others to provide environment awareness and education programmes to the public. For example, the Authority, carried out campaigns and public education programmes on environment management through infomercials and radio talk shows. For example, 1,660 infomercials/adverts were aired on radios, that is, Vision Radio in Western Region, Spice FM in Albertine Region, and Rock Mambo in Eastern Region, Success and KFM in Central Region. In addition, two talk shows were held on Success FM and Spice FM. Shared environment protection related information on different social media platforms (especially on X and LinkedIn account) and engaged the public in environment protection debates. Awareness campaigns also involved press release as a way of information sharing to the public hence increasing awareness on Environmental Management.
Developed four articles on environment related areas and published them on NEMA website. The articles include training of environment officers, constitution of the WED National Organizing Committee, sand mining, and International Mother Earth Day. The Authority also produced documentaries from schools on best practices of environment management. UBC was engaged to develop the documentaries for 10 different schools across the country. The schools selected were in all the regions i.e., Western region (Mbarara District), Central region (iLwengo, Wakiso, Kampala and Masaka, Karamoja Region and Eastern Region (Tororo and Soroti). The selected schools had demonstrated evidence-based, best practices in environment management. NEMA also published numerous articles in the media on environment aspects in the country especially on restoration efforts and wetland abuse. A number of media statements were issued, including: One on World Wetlands Day, the other on litter and waste management in the country, and another one on environment prosecution cases, among others.
Environmental Awareness and Education Campaigns in Schools
The Authority has implemented interventions in institutions of learning in the country to create awareness on environment protection. NEMA engagement with schools is intended to foster education for sustainable development. Environment education interventions that have been carried out in schools include:
- Debates on environment issues in schools, 20 primary and secondary schools in Kapchorwa and Sironko districts were engaged in school environment debate competitions as part of the activities to commemorate WED activity in June 2024.
- Trained Pupils and Patrons from six (6) schools in Gulu and Omoro Districts on Climate Change, establishment formation and sustaining of Environment Clubs in schools, Waste Management (Briquets Making and Compost Manure), Greening Schools, establishment and Management of Tree Nursery Beds
- Engaged Agha Khan school to commemorate Mother Earth Day, the activity was under the theme Planet Vs Plastics and over 1000 pupils were engaged during the school assembly.
- Environment education and awareness programmes were carried out in higher institutions of learning such as Ndejje University, Mutesa 1 Royal University, Busitema University, Muni University, Lira University and Uganda Martyrs University – Nkozi and Makerere University. The institutions were sensitized and supported with tree planting initiatives, while some communities near Ndejje university benefited from establishment of Biogas Project through research and capacity building during the university outreaches.
The Authority also developed IEC materials that have been used to communicate environment protection messages. The materials include, calendars, dairies, newsletters, posters, resource books, branded tent, magazines, fact sheets, flyers, tear drops banner, pull up banners, invitation cards, seasons cards, stickers, PVC banners, folder files, plaques/awards, accreditation tags, reflector jackets, caps, T-shirts for schools, teardrop banner for schools, exhibition table clothes and brochures. The materials were used for public environment education and awareness campaigns.
