NEWS- Following the destruction of environment by the communities through deforestation, bush and charcoal burning, non-governmental organizations together with the District leaders in Teso have opted to hold schools debate on climate justice and environment sustainability.
With the theme “climate justice and environment sustainability” the secondary schools of Toroma Peas, Usuk SS, St. Stephen and Pricilla comprehensive school were selected for the tough debate on Friday 24th of November 2023. But only Pricilla comprehensive school didn’t show-up.
The chief Judge, Paul Opesen declared, Toroma Peace secondary school the winner with 51%, marks and Usuk SS second with 50% marks.
While closing the one-day deliberation organised by church of Uganda TEDDO and Action-Aid at Royalist hotel Katakwi, the Secretary for Education and community based in Katakwi District Hon. Irene Among applauded the partners for initiating the debate saying, it will help shape the English language in schools.
Among who is the District councilor for Getom and Akoboi sub counties noted that Ongongoja, Okulonyo, Ngariam, Guyaguya and Magoro sub-counties to be on the lead with charcoal burning.
“Basing on the president’s directive, we shall arrest and prosecute whoever is found with heavy trucks carrying charcoal” Among stated.
Simon Okello, the environment officer for Katakwi said, the vagaries as per the rain patterns and prolonged dry spells show effects of climate change highly being realized in the District.
“I can confirm with authority that, Katakwi people are suffering so much because of climate change related issues and this has affected their social welfare and wellbeing, and as a district we are afraid that due to these effects, we may not achieve vision 2040 of the middle income status” Okello sounded.
Abraham Otuya, the programme officer for Resilience livelihoods at TEDDO noted that political leaders and technical persons should restore environment through advocating for effective policies and funding that sustainable environment from being destroyed.
Otuya added that they are training communities in Katakwi to improve on their agricultural production (Agro-Ecology) majorly in the sub-counties of; Palam, Toroma and Kapujan respectively.
