"From Childhood Lessons to Global Concerns: The Urgent Call for Responsible Waste Management in Uganda"
Growing up deep upcountry in kimukunda village (Kyotera District) Uganda, I was fortunate to have a father who instilled in us the importance of proper waste disposal, he actually came home on weekends the other days he was away for work, Eddie always left work for us to do within the course of the week ‘picking coffee, hand pollinating vanilla et al, however he was very strict not to find any polyethene (kaveera)/trash around home he even reached a point of telling us to pick from our neighbours!. His teachings, coupled with the disciplined environment of the seminary (Bukalasa) where every class had a dustbin, in our cubicles, cell leaders were strict on ‘gustes’ responsible! Every corner had a dustbin, that shaped my perspective on the significance of maintaining a clean and healthy environment. Recently, the visit of German #TopKurs students hosted by UNYFA an Umbrella of Young Farmers’ Federation Uganda highlighted the stark contrast between their waste management practices and the alarming state of waste disposal in Uganda. One of them wanted to know why we litter, and jokingly Kabiito Denis the CEO of UNYFA handed over the question to me uhmmm!!! This has ignited a deep concern within me, prompting a reflection on the lessons from my childhood and a call for urgent action.
The Early Lessons: In the embrace of my father's teachings, every corner of our home and the seminary was adorned with dustbins. It was a norm, a way of life that transcended the boundaries of our immediate surroundings. The act of responsibly managing waste was not just a chore but a duty we carried with pride. It was an ethos that echoed the sentiment that the environment we live in is a shared responsibility.
Contrasting Experiences: Fast forward to the present, and the contrast is stark. The pervasive issue of trash disposal in Uganda is evident everywhere, from residential areas to roadsides. The recent visit by German students, who are accustomed to a culture of discipline and environmental awareness, only served to accentuate the glaring disparity. The stark reality is that our society is grappling with an escalating waste crisis, and the time to address it is now.
Personal Dilemmas: Amidst this disheartening reality, I find myself wrestling with personal dilemmas. A simple act of removing the top cover from a water bottle becomes a moral dilemma as I hand it back to the seller, only to be met with indifference and a casual "dump it there." The disconnect between individual actions and their impact on the environment is alarming, and it is a reflection of the urgent need for a cultural shift towards responsible waste management.
#Kcca
Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability (CCES) #dailymonitor
