Climate change is a major talking point globally. However, the conversation often occurs on grand stages and rarely trickles down to the everyday person who is significantly affected by climate changes and contributes to environmental degradation due to a lack of knowledge, awareness, and mentorship.

One such place is Bwaise 3 Parish, Katogo Zone, located in Wakiso District. This slum houses approximately 30,000 people and faces grave waste disposal problems, making it extremely susceptible to floods due to poor soil and waste management. Polythene bags and various other waste types are commonly seen in trenches and the environment at large.

To address this issue, the leaders and residents of Bwaise 3 have devised a system to tackle waste management.

Pupils planting a tree during the cleaning exercise.

A monthly cleaning and tree planting exercise, organised by civil society organization (Mambya Arts Foundation) in conjunction with local residents and leaders, was initiated.

Speaking to the New Vision during a cleaning exercise, David Luzindana, Chairman of Katogo Zone, elaborated that the cleaning effort is vital for this densely populated area to reduce health risks originating from poor hygiene.

Luzindana also noted that, due to the poor soil type and the area's location in a valley, rain brings silt, debris, and other foreign bodies, posing health risks to the community.

During the cleaning exercise, three schools participated, aiming to mentor students on the importance of maintaining a clean environment and understanding the effects of poor waste disposal, evidenced by clogged drainage systems.

"We involved young people because they are the leaders of tomorrow. We want to instil the importance of environmental conservation in their minds so that they hold themselves accountable for the environment in the future," Luzindana said.

Jacobs Ssebunya, a primary five student at Wonder World Junior School, has participated in the cleaning and tree planting exercise four times.

When asked why he participates, he said, "I think we should all keep our environment clean and ensure that it does not become toxic to us. I feel it is my responsibility to ensure my environment is safe for all of us to live in."

In addition to cleaning the environment, sustainable waste management is crucial. Groups like Balisekamadda have been created to implement sustainable waste management by making charcoal out of organic waste. "We collect organic waste to make charcoal, aiming to use organic waste that would otherwise clog the drainage systems," stated Aisha Naluwoza, Chairperson of the Balisekamadda Group.

Kerry Bradshaw, director of Mambya Arts Foundation, a tree planting NGO involved in the activity, explained their initiative is driven towards creating access to a nice environment similar to that in Kololo.

"When you look at the aerial map of Kololo, all you see is green. But in Bwaise, it's all brown. The question is, why can't people in Bwaise have the same kind of environment?"

Bradshaw noted that tree planting has been ongoing for six months in the Bwaise slum area to improve soil quality and structure. This helps absorb water during floods, preventing homes from flooding, and provides fruit and shade to the community, as the trees planted are fruit trees. 

Since the inception of the tree planting project, 500 trees have been planted in the Bwaise slum. Under the umbrella initiative dubbed Act Africa where they are planting trees and helping communities clean up. As per this round of tree planting and cleaning exercise, Six trees were planted, and fenced to protect them from predators, as well as a water strategy to ensure the trees don't die.