By KT Reporter
Karamoja, a region known for its unpredictable weather and environmental vulnerabilities, faces critical challenges in water resource management and environmental conservation. The region’s limited water sources are under threat due to pollution, misuse, and climate change, which exacerbate the already dire situation.
Solid waste management and the protection of water bodies remain key issues, with plastic bottles and polythene bags further degrading the environment and obstructing agricultural growth. In response to these pressing environmental concerns, secondary and tertiary schools in the Karamoja sub-region have embarked on environmental and water resource conservation initiatives.
One such effort is the Inter-Secondary Schools Youth Debate Tournament, held on Friday at Moroto High School. Organized by Water for Production under the Ministry of Water and Environment, with support from Action Against Hunger, the tournament is part of the preparations for World Water Day on March 22. The debate tournament saw participation from 11 selected schools across the region, with each sending 5 to 8 students. Through the competition, students gained new insights into environmental issues, learning how to advocate for the protection of water resources and the environment effectively.
Martha Bamsime, a student from Nakapiripirit Seed Secondary School, shared that the debate deepened their understanding of environmental conservation, emphasizing the importance of educating the public about the dangers of environmental degradation.
Bamsime said that the only way to save the environment is through educating the masses to understand the dangers of the environment so that they can know the importance of protecting it. She also noted that they are emphasizing the plantation of more trees and providing fence for the water facilities to protect it against pollution. Bamsime said that they are going to start conducting a campaign within the school and the surrounding communities on environmental protection. Jacky Sandra Awidi, a student from Kangole Girls Secondary in Napak, stressed the importance of managing solid waste, particularly plastic and polythene, which hinder water penetration and disrupt agriculture. The impacts of pollution on both the environment and soil health were central to her argument.
Awidi noted that there is a lot to be done to protect the water sources because it is the basic of life and the industrial sector. She also noted that there is also a need to manage the solid wastes that have often affected the environment and air pollution. Awidi observed that solid wastes such as plastic bottles, and polythene bags that do not rote to form fertilizers instead prevent water penetration and affect agriculture. She added that the effect may also cause poor aeration of the soil making crop production difficult. Joseph Lochap from Moroto High School focused on the necessity of safe, clean water, emphasizing the importance of religious leaders in advocating for environmental protection, given their widespread influence in the community.
Lochap said that he attains the role of managing the water source because of the need for safe clean water. Lochap urged the religious leaders to help amplify the call for environmental protection because they have a large following. He reiterated that although he can speak to the community, only a few may take him seriously compared to the trust they would have in the church messenger.
Students have taken these lessons beyond the classroom, with many planning environmental campaigns in their schools and communities. Patience Kakayi Namuju of Lolachat Seed School in Nabilatuk explained how engaging with peers from other schools broadened her perspectives on environmental management. She noted that eliminating ignorance about these issues is key to improving the sustainability of water resources and environmental protection.
He also added that developing the way they protect and conserve the water bodies and shape them to understand how best they can deal with the challenges they face in the environment.
Francis Lopeyok, team leader at Karamoja Youth Efforts to Save the Environment (KAYESE), shared that local communities are still grappling with waste management challenges in urban areas. However, KAYESE is working to restore the environment, including efforts like tree planting and the protection of valley dam water sources. Their recent success in planting over 2000 trees in Moroto and Karenga districts is an example of the positive impact these initiatives can have.
Lopeyok observed that garbage is still remaining a big challenge in the urban areas and this has often affected the environment. He said that they have also been implementing interventions that look at protecting the valley dam water sources for production through irrigation initiatives. Lopeyok added that the valley dams should also be able to have a separate section for watering livestock and not mixing it with other productive projects. He also revealed that they have so far planted over 2000 trees in the districts of Moroto and Karenga as part of the initiative to address climate change. He said that the trees have successfully grown up unlike in the previous years when they used to suffer from the scorching sun that destroyed many trees. Lopeyok said that the rain pattern of last year was fair enough to let the trees grow well and they are now looking forward to planting more and also establishing the community nursery bed.
David Kiwanuka, Deputy Manager of Water for Production in the Karamoja Regional Center, discussed the ongoing preparations for World Water Day. He highlighted that the debate tournament and other activities, including town cleaning and menstrual runs, are aimed at raising awareness and funds for reusable pads for girls in schools across the region. Kiwanuka noted that engaging youth in such debates is crucial for fostering critical thinking about environmental issues that will impact future generations.
Kiwanuka said that they are carrying out a series of events as part of their preparations for World Water Day. Kiwanuka said that the entire week had several events ranging from the general cleaning of the town, school debates and public competitions, and menstrual runs that are intended to raise money for the purchase of reusable pads for the girls in schools within the region. Kiwanuka noted that the winners of the debate will qualify for the National Event in Kampala and after will be an International event that will be on World Water Day. Kiwanuka explained that the youth have a key role to play in looking after the environment because they still have more years to live. He said that the youths should be encouraged to plant more trees to save the environment for the next generations. Kiwanuka noted that the debate aims at engaging learners and teachers in critical thinking about the issues prevailing now that are going to affect the future. Kiwanuka also noted that they introduce public speaking in the event to enable learners to sell their ideas especially on environmental topics. He added that debate and public speaking are critical in informing the ideas of the youth and also sustaining them to be able to sell their ideas to the world-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
