As a way of enhancing the adaptability of radio staff and listeners to the growing technological needs in communication and use of social media platforms, the National Association of Professional Environmentalists last month conducted a training for Community Green radio staff and representatives of listeners on the use of Twitter.
The training was conducted at the radio premises in Kiboga town in central Uganda and was specific on how to use twitter to convey information.
Ms. Grace Kirabo from LWEGA TECH LTD took participants through the use of various tools and features on twitter. These included creating content, attaching images and using twitter space. Twitter space enables individuals to hold virtual meetings, accommodating up to 100 participants.
Allan Kalangi, the NAPE Sustainability School Programme Manager appealed to participants to continue using social media especially twitter to convey messages to distant audiences for advocacy purposes.
“Given the current trend of technological advancement, many people are now using social media to communicate. There is need to learn more about using different social media platforms to help us reach out to far audiences but also to advocate for community good and human rights”, Mr. Kalangi explained.
Kalangi assured the participants that the organization will continue organizing more of such trainings to enhance the capacity of the radio staff and listeners in the use of other social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Twitter is a free social networking site where users broadcast short posts known as tweets. These tweets can contain text, videos, photos or links.
The National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) with support from UNWOMEN, Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) in recognizing the contributions and promoting peer learning between CSOs working on Women, youth, peace and humanitarian issues conducted capacity building trainings with ORRA.
The two-day training that involved the Oil refinery project affected persons under their association “Oil Refinery Residents Association”-ORRA conducted in Kyakaboga village, Buseruka subcounty in Hoima district aimed at equipping them with skills and knowledge on how to conduct exchange visits.
ORRA is a women led community-based organization which started in 2012 as a pressure group to protect the rights of the refinery project affected persons, especially women and youth, formed following a community outcry over 29 sq. Km of land that displaced 7,118 people from 13 villages in Kabaale parish, Buseruka sub county.
Joan Akiiza, the NAPE Legal Officer revealed that the training is intended to enable the Oil Refinery Residents Association-ORRA participants to acquire the necessary skills on how to conduct exchange learning visits and improve their visibility while conducting advocacy.
“This training by NAPE and particularly involving Oil Refinery Residents Association-ORRA is being conducted as a strategy of sharing knowledge, experiences, lessons and challenges about common issues affecting the communities” elaborates Akiiza.
While sharing the whole overview of the training, the group Chairperson Millius Nyamahunge said that the training is important for ORRA because it helps them to explain the achievements and successes achieved.
“The Association can now share their current life time experiences because the challenges they faced and the lessons they learnt can be shared practically after carrying out an exchange visit if they all have common problems or challenges” says Nyamahunge.
According to Innocent Tumwebaze, the ORRA vice chairperson and youth representative, such trainings are good to help in empowering the communities affected by such government projects because they can ably fight for their rights.
Meanwhile, Gard Andionzi, the Persons with disability representative in the association also said that the exercise helps the vulnerable groups to advocate for their rights since learning how to share their experiences can make them openly share what they have been subjected to.
Christopher Opio, the executive secretary of ORRA also said that the training by NAPE helps all the vulnerable groups including the Women, PWDs, and Persons living with HIV/AIDs and the youths to learn what issues and experiences they can share and how they can do it.
“The training also empowers us to use social media to communicate to our audience on the issues affecting us through use of platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook and twitter”, said Opio.
Opio explained that the move to have trainings on sharing experiences, lessons and challenges is important to make them prosper wide and far due to the fact that they are a young association trying to thrive.
Journalists from the Albertine region under their umbrella Albertine Journalists’ Platform (AJOP) together with Community Green Radio listeners’ club members from the areas affected by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline project have been equipped with basic skills in community Journalism.
Albertine Journalists’ Platform (AJOP), formed under the auspice and guardianship of the Sustainability school project, brings together all journalists from different media houses in the Oil region with an aim of imparting knowledge and skills to enhance their capacity to report on issues that affect the communities they serve.
The training that took place at ATKON hotel in Kiboga town council in May this year attracted journalists from media houses from the districts of Hoima, Kakumiro, Kibaale, Kiboga, Buliisa and Kyankwanzi. It also attracted Community Green Radio listeners’ representatives and the Project affected persons from Luanda, Kibiga sub-county in Kiboga distrct and areas of Nabidondolo, Gayaza all in Kyankwanzi district.
The training that dwelled on imparting knowledge on the issues that need coverage in the community and building the capacity of the journalists was facilitated by Prof. Adolf Mbainefrom Makerere Universitydepartment of mass Communication. Prof. Mbaine called upon the Journalists and Community members to embrace the skills enhancement for the wellbeing of the communities.
“The purpose of imparting the basic community reporting skills is to enable the journalists and the community reporters to enhance your skills in reporting about the vast issues affecting the community” Prof. Mbaine elaborated.
Prof. Mbaine said that most journalists have not taken keen interest in acquiring basic skills that enable them to multi-task yet Journalism is a very sensitive profession that is affected whenever the economy and other factors change.
Julius Kyamanywa, the station manager -Community Green Radio station said that the aim of convening the Journalists under the Albertine Journalists’ platform is meant to create avenue for reviewing how different media houses carry on their profession given the acquired skills.
“The platform creates an avenue through which journalists from the different media houses can come together and share knowledge on professionalisms based on different issues that affect the community” said Kyamanywa.
Meanwhile the Community Green Radio listeners’ clubs members from Kiboga and Kyankwanzi also revealed that being involved in a capacity building meeting with professions like Journalists exposes them to sharing ideas that help them improve their livelihood, conserve the environment better and other key areas of life.
Asuman Ssembatya, the chairperson for Bwakedde Butya listeners’ club in Nabidondolo parish-Kyankwanzi district also expressed gratitude for being considered as important community members by NAPE under the sustainability school project.
Allan Kalangi, the Sustainability school project manager revealed that the all avenues have been created for the Journalists and the community members to learn more about what is required of them to practice good journalism but they should embrace the skills to move to a greater level.
Persons affected by the oil pipeline have condemned what they term as tiresome and delayed compensation process that has kept them waiting for long.
This was revealed during information sharing meeting on East African Crude Oil Pipeline(EACOP) held at ATKON hotel Kiboga on 25th November 2021 organized by National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE).
The people affected by the EACOP and Hoima-Kampala Refined Petroleum Products Pipeline from districts of Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Kikuube and Hoima who attended the meeting said that the setback arose from disagreement between the property valuers and some of the PAPs who did not consent with the set rates hence being left out.
The PAPs from Rwanda in Kibiga Sub County Kiboga district said that the delayed compensation has left them with limited food because they were directed not to plant crops on the valued land yet if they had been compensated, they would have acquired land for cultivation.
Lucy Mbuubi, the secretary of Butimba sustainability Conservation Association (BUSUCA) in Kiziranfumbi sub county, Kikuube district, said that due to the delayed compensation, the residents have faced challenges with their spouses who cannot standthe poverty they go through.
Meanwhile, PAPs from Kyankwanzi testified to have faced information gap between them and the Government because the communities were not informed about the land surveying and valuation process which brought in inconsistencies.
“I feel the compensation money has been delayed because there were inconsistencies during valuing of the properties since other properties were having smaller rates and others higher and government is still assessing when to pay says Kyankwanzi PAP Avestina Twebaze.
Allan Kalangi the Sustainability School Manager revealed that the sole aim of meeting the various Project Affected persons was to find the progress of the pipeline and how the affected persons are being compensation and any other developments.
“Non-Governmental organizations like National Association of Professional Environmentalists -NAPE and Civic Response on Environment and Development (CRED) are working together to guide and empower the PAPs on all injustices like delayed compensation” Kalangi explains.
The EACOP project covers 10 Ugandan districts including Hoima, Kikuube, Kakumiro, Kyankwanzi, Gomba, Mubende, Rakai, Kyotera, Lwengo and Sembabule involving 200 households and 3,792 PAPs on 2,740 hectares of land out of the 1443 Km square.
Community Green Radio listeners’ clubs members have been advised to get involved in initiatives that promote environmental conservation and sustainability.
During a visit to Kapeke Women Listeners’ Club in Kiboga district late March this year, Frank Muramuzi, the Executive Director for National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) said the organization works with communities while encouraging them to get involved into sustainable environmental conservation, protecting land rights, conserving wetlands, tree planting and many other programs.
He said the listeners clubs should start up income generating projects that are environmental friendly like beekeeping and also ensure food security.
“The environment is not only the trees that surround us but it also involve the people who benefit from it, more so the bees we keep are important part of Environmental conservation “explained Muramuzi.
During the visit, the listeners’ club members from Kiboga and Kyankwanzi gathered in Kapeke where they visited an apiary and members trained on different local bee hives.
Ms.Sarah Kamyuka, Community Green Radio listener from Kapeke women enterprise said she has developed ideas of establishing different sustainable initiatives through the various radio programs.
“Through the green radio Nyinabwenge programme, as a woman, I have been able to plant local vegetables in sacks, polythene bags and other containers,” said Kamyuka.
Kamyuka expressed that they have also had sessions of knowledge sharing about the different livelihood activities with other women from diverse groups and have been able to emulate.
The listeners’ club members were happy with the idea of visiting projects saying it will keep them focused on initiatives that strengthen their groups by implementing the ideas got from the meeting to transform them.
Ssembatya Asuman, the chairperson for Nabidondolo listeners’ clubs in Kyankwanzi district, said listeners clubs are important and have empowered community members to adopt different skills that sustain their livelihoods.
Allan Kalangi the sustainability school program Manager applauded the Community Green Radio listener clubs for embracing the initiatives that empower them urging that the visit is purposely meant for inspecting the activities carried out by listeners clubs obtained from CGR sensitization programs and also equip the listeners with more ideas that can sustain them.
Kalangi therefore encouraged the community members to continue using the radio to inform the rest and set the goal of sustaining their incomes and to improve environmental conservation.
The use of chemicals in agricultural practices has become inevitable in fighting crop pests, disease and weeds.
However, there has been concerns on risks of continued application of poisonous chemicals on health and environment. Experts warn that excessive use and misuse of chemicals pollutes water resources, causes biodiversity loss and compromises the safety of food.
It is for this reason that National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) is in a campaign to sensitize farmers about the dangers of careless application of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals as well as promoting organic pest control methods.
On March 25, NAPE held a sensitization meeting that attracted over 60 farmers from Hoima and Kikuube districts. They were sensitized on risks associated with the use agriculture chemicals and available sustainable organic solutions of managing pests and soil fertility.
Fatuma Nantambi, the Agricultural extension service provider from Hoima District Farmers Association (HODFA) said the use of organic methods of farming enhances good yields since natural components of the soil are maintained.
She said that farmers do not observe safety measures like wearing protective gears including gumboots, overalls, gloves, helmets and facial masks and reading precautionary measures about the usage.
“Agro-chemicals greatly affect farmers because they do not ascertain their effects on the soil and the plants. It is good to embark on use of organic methods like applying animal dung or chicken droppings as manure; mulching to control weeds and use of other locally made pesticides,”Fatuma explained.
In the meeting, farmers were also trained on the use of organic pest control methods and use of agricultural practices like mulching to control weeds.
Kabaale Women Farmers group demonstrated how farmers can come up with organic pesticides by mixing black jack, Neem/Lemon leaves, onion and garlic, tomato leaves and soap. The ingredients can be pounded to come up with well blended liquid that can be used for spraying.
The group chairperson, Annet Kasoro said organic agricultural inputs have far reaching advantages and saves money when using them than buying Agro-chemicals.
“The Kabaale women farmers group resorted to using organic pesticides and seed preservatives to reduce on health and environmental risks related to agrochemicals,” Kasoro explained.
Amos Byabasore, a maize farmer from Kigaaga village said that he has resorted to using organic agro inputs because he underwent a nasty experience when using agrochemicals to spray army worm from maize which in turn affected his health.
“Farmers are taken up by agro-chemicals yet they do not care to follow the healthy procedures required when using these chemicals. I almost died from inhaling a chemical while spraying. I vomited and became sick for some days, am careful and I now use organic materials,” confessed Byabasore.
Peruth Atukwatse, the NAPE Officer in charge of Chemicals Management and Climate Change, said the meeting aimed at sensitizing farmers on safe usage of agriculture chemicals, wastes management and promoting non-chemical pest control measure to protect consumers and farmers from excessive chemical residues in food and protect the environment.
“Apart from agro chemicals, there are other chemicals that we interact with on daily basis and these cause harm to our bodies depending on handling, usage and disposal. We want the communities to know the dangers associated and how to regulate their use, “says Atukwatse.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers under different commands have conflicted over illegal transportation for forestry resources from the disputed Bugoma Central Forest Reserve in Kikuube District.
Involved are two UPDF soldiers and three Field Force Unit (FFU) policemen attached to the National Forestry Authority (NFA) who were assaulted and disarmed by another group of UPDF soldiers allegedly attached to Hoima Sugar Limited.
The incident happened at Kololo trading centre in Kyangwali sub-county, Kikuube district after guards from NFA intercepted a lorry carrying timber suspected to have been harvested illegally from Bugoma central forest reserve en-route to Nyairongo village, Kabwoya sub-county in Kikuube district.
The NFA Kisindi Sector Manager Alex Obonyo disclosed that the lorry containing the timber was intercepted after getting tipped by concerned citizens of the truck loading the timber in at Nyamigisa area which is nine kilometers away from the disputed parts of Bugoma central forest reserve.
“We were informed by concerned residents that truck registration number UBH 975 Y had loaded timber being transported out of the forest reserve and we had to alert our guards to intercept the truck”, Obonyo explain told this website.
Obonyo mentioned the assaulted NFA police guards as Corporal Peter Bulamu, Cpl. Gerald Asiimwe and a one Nsungwa while the soldiers are only identified by single names as Private (Pte) Chance and Sergeant (Sgt) Karim.
Although NFA is a mandated custodian to oversee all the central forest reserves in Uganda, they work with the military and Police both independently and compliantly to provide pro-active protection of the forests and prevent consistent crime within the community policing areas.
According to the assaulted officers, they faced resistance from Hoima Sugar factory party after intercepting the truck fully loaded with the logs that was illegally harvested from Bugoma.
However, clashes over Bugoma central forest reserve have been on increase since 2017 when part of the forest was given away for sugarcane planting to feed Hoima sugar factory situated in Kigyayo village, Kiswaza parish, in Kiziranfumbi sub county Hoima district.
In October last year, journalists survived being shot by the military while they were investigating allegations of massive degradation of the forest in Nyairongo parts of the forest.
NFA Spokesperson Ms. Aisha Alibhai confirmed that the incident occurred and that all the five NFA guards who were on duty to guard and prevent crimes arising from illegal activities carried out the forest were assaulted, disarmed and detained for some hours.
“The violent soldiers assaulted, disarmed and detained all the five NFA guards and even in the process assaulted a boda-boda rider mistaken to be part of the NFA guards opened a case at Wairagaza Police Post and justice must prevail”, Alibhai explained.
To reduce the increased loss of forest cover in Uganda, FAO, EU through the government supports NAPE’s independent Forest Monitoring (IFM), FAO-EU-FLEGT Project aimed at fighting illegal logging within Ugandan forests in collaboration with National Forestry Authority (NFA), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and CSOs.
Every 21st March, the United Nations raises awareness on the importance of all types of forests. The 2021 International Day of Forests has been commemorated under the theme “Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being”.
According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, FAO country representative to Uganda Antonio Querido, the international day of forests is taking place amid covid-19 because there is need to create awareness about restoration of forests on the world.
“It’s with this aim that forests continue to strive because it helps mitigate climate change and other factors like floods and soil erosion”, said Mr. Querido.
Querido’s remarks were made at a national dialogue at Serena Hotel in Kampala, 18th March on sustainable forest restoration.
During the dialogue, Beatrice Anywar Uganda’s state for Water and revealed government’s plan to plant 200 million indigenous trees for a period of 5 years as a measure to restore forest cover. The minister said there is need for mindset shift and development of alternative sources of energy to safe forests from extinction.
“The mindset of the community should be changed from forest exploitation by closely looking at alternative energy use to achieve sustainability so that we prevent biodiversity loss”, Anywar said.
Among the key issues raised during the dialogue, forestry bodies were challenged about restoring forests amid the growing human needs caused by population growth and pressure from communities to improve their livelihoods.
Although forests play a crucial role in poverty alleviation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by making them good for resilient communities and prosperous economies, they are also a home to 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity.
Caroline Adriaensen , the European Union (EU), head of development Cooperation said the international day of forests is important for sustainability because of rapid degradation that is causing global warming, forests must be celebrated by sustainably using forest products.
Dean School of Forestry, Environment and Geographical science-Makerere University, Prof. Fred Babweteera, the Keynote speaker said that Uganda’s forests are mainly destroyed by Agriculture activities and community settlement leading to deforestation hence climate change onset.
Currently, 25 percent of countries face more forest loss to Agriculture expansion than restoration for the next 2015-2030 but research recommends that the transformation of food production systems that lead to depletion can be tackled through reform policies.
The permanent secretary to the ministry of water and environment, Alfred Okot Okidi supposed that forests are part of our home, food and future but in Uganda, the forests are facing tremendous pressure where restoration process requires joint partnership.
The national dialogue on Forest restoration has been organized by FAO in partnership with European Union and Sweden Embassy to raise awareness about forest restoration as a solution to reviving the lost forest cover and reducing effects of climate change.
National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) through Forests and Biodiversity program is also currently running a project on Monitoring Ugandan Forests, “increasing the role of civil society in fighting illegal logging” with support from Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), European Union (EU), Government/ Ministry of water and Environment beneath the “Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade” (FLEGT) initiative aimed at reducing illegal logging within the Ugandan forests.
This year the theme “Forest restoration: A path to recovery and wellbeing emphasizes on the importance of education at all levels in achieving sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation.
National Association of professional Environmentalists (NAPE), partners and different stakeholders have launched a 2 year project aimed at regulating illegal logging.
The project, code named Food Agricultural Organization of the United the United Nations, Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FAO-EU-FLEGT) is aimed at monitoring Ugandan Forests by increasing the role of civil society in fighting illegal logging.
It will be implemented by NAPE in partnership with Field Legality Advocacy Group (FLAG), a Cameroonian organization that has expertise in Independent Forest Monitoring in Central and West Africa.
Frank Muramuzi, NAPE Executive Director and the FAO-EU-FLEGT project Lead expresses concerned about drastic climate change, caused by destruction of forest cover that needs to be protected through monitoring.
“Whether it is legal or illegal logging, our major concern is that the forests in Uganda are being degraded at a higher rate. I appeal to government to regulate and reduce on illegal logging”, said Mr. Muramuzi.
According to Bob Kazungu, Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE)-FLEGT focal point person, monitoring of forestry management has been taking place by Ugandan government institutions through routine M&E frameworks in place.
“Forest monitoring has been done to inform policy in many instances including checking on compliance to frameworks. We have been able to monitor remotely with Geographic Information Systems (GIS)”, Kazungu explained.
Kazungu illustrates that GIS allows forest monitoring parties to display and analyze graphic and tabular data by enhancing forest management that enable land owners and forest managers to evaluate and analyze the species diversity, age and size of timber, timber density or volume.
He says although the set approaches have not produced results in reducing on the loss of the plantation and deal with the identified issues of illegal logging, NAPE and other stakeholders are important in addressing the challenges faced in fighting illegal logging in Uganda.
David Kureeba, the Project Manager for Forests and Biodiversity at NAPE explained the purpose and engagements of the project and the activities that are in place to ensure forest protection across the country to independently monitor the forests.
“Different stakeholders are at the centre of reaching the information of reducing illegal logging to suit the forest monitoring strategy” Kureeba said.
FAO representative Dr. Charles Owachi, on behalf of the FAO Country Director -Dr. Antonio Querido, said illegal logging has been a threat to sustainable development but the role of civil society is important in the monitoring process.
European Union (EU) representative Jalia Kobusinge explained that whereas CSOs and Government sector have a different role to play, EU is extending initiatives that fight forestry challenges by raising awareness.
The project NAPE is implementing is funded by the European Union (EU), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Field Legality Advocacy Group (FLAG) from Cameroon and Ugandan Government bodies in charge of forests.
Uganda’s forest and woodland cover stands at 24 percent of the total land area, equivalent to 49,000 square kilometers. Of these 9,242.08 km² is tropical rainforest, 350.60 km² are forest plantations and 39,741.02 km² is woodland but 30% of these areas are protected as national parks, wildlife reserves or central forest reserves.
Persons affected by the Oil pipeline project in Kiyuni village, Mulagi Sub County in Kyankwanzi district are concerned over the exhaustion of the Environment and household livelihoods in the name of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline project.
The Project is expected to run through 10 districts of Uganda from Kibaale parish, Buseruka Sub County in Hoima through Kyankwanzi and other districts, transverse Tanzania.
Whereas Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the EACOP – a process that evaluates the potential social and environmental impacts of a given project and their mitigation measures was conducted, the PAPs say they are encountering a stall environmental and livelihood practices.
The ESIA studies for the EACOP were conducted around the crude oil export pipeline route (from Uganda’s Kabaale parish, Buseruka Sub County in Hoima district to Chongoleani peninsula, north to Tanga port in Tanzania).
Betty Namugwanya one of the affected PAPs from Kiyuni village, Mulagi Sub County in Kyankwanzi district hopes that the idea of barring them from carrying out any farming activity on the land can be withdrawn because it has greatly impacted the Environment through tree cutting to earn a living.
“The indigenous trees that were used to mitigate effects of environment degradation have been cut down to boost household income of the community since we are not supposed to continue cultivating perennial crops” Namugwanya explains.
She says that although she only had a plot of land, it was helping by means of enhancing her income especially through her small scale farming activities of planting organic food stuff that she normally sells to the community members.
The Chairperson in charge of the PAPs and the affairs of the community in Kiyuni village, Kyankwanzi district, David Kakumirizi said that the area has been conserved with good indigenous trees species like Taminalia, mivule and others but were all depleted by both EACOP projects activities and the residents.
“The community resorted to cutting down the trees for charcoal, firewood and timber because all their means of livelihood were hampered by the project that is why they are destroying the environment while awaiting for compensation” says Kakumirizi.
In spite of the above, they are also committed to minimizing any unavoidable impact to ecosystems, biodiversity and local communities, restoring and rehabilitating impacted areas hence offsetting significant residual impacts
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