WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES IN HOIMA TAKE ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Friday, October 25th, 2024 | By

Women with disabilities organized under Hoima Blind Women Association (HOBWA) are participating in efforts to mitigate climate change and its effects.

Joy Rufunda, the HOBWA Executive Director, says their aim is see 5,000 trees planted by women at their homes and on their land away from home within one year.

Rufunda says the degradation of natural forests and wetlands in favor of human activities like agriculture has contributed to climate change and its effects. She says people with disabilities are the most affected because if accessibility to firewood is hard, they find more trouble compared to the ones without disability.

Joseph Mukama, the PWDs chairperson in Kikuube district council asks women to select eco-friendly tree seedling species like musizi, mvule (musiimbi) and mahogany – the indigenous trees known for their advantage to mitigating climate change in both rain formation and soil conservation for crop production and high yields.

This is contrary to exotic trees like eucalyptus that he says cannot allow intercropping compared to native trees.

Anna Mary Tumusiime, a member of HOBWA, called for tireless and continuous community sensitization about climate change.

Beatrice Aheebwa, the councilor for PWDs in Kapaapi sub-county, Hoima district, is appealing to PWDs to always work hard in spite of their bodily disabilities.

Aheebwa advised that amidst climate change being experienced, people should not only plant trees but also food crops like cassava, maize and beans for their home consumption to avoid food insecurity.

She stressed the members’ positive mindset in mitigating climate change and its effects is key for a desirable environment to live in.