Schools urged to reduce reliance on firewood

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If Uganda is to move several steps closer to realising a carbon-emission-free environment, schools should reduce their reliance on firewood, climate finance and sustainability experts say. 

According to them, schools need to lead the way in ensuring a safe environment.

Climate change finance expert Jude Kamuganga says schools contribute greatly to the environment through carbon emissions accumulated from firewood usage.

He says a bigger percentage of schools across the country,  still largely rely on firewood for cooking,  something he says has posed negative dangers to the environment.

Students prep for the debate. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

Students debated that schools need to lead the way in ensuring a safe environment. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

"There is an urgent need for schools to deliberately reduce their reliance on firewood.  There are local and cheaper solutions. Schools can lead the way in combating climate change-related hazards," Kamuganga adds.

He made the remarks on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, during the preliminary debate rounds of the National Climate Change Championship at Kololo Secondary School in Kampala.

The championship is under the Green Schools Project, also known as the Green Schools Initiative (GSI), which has for the last two years supported and impacted 130 secondary schools across 10 regions of the country.

The project, which is championed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the Embassy of Sweden and Vision Group has done wonders through the raising of awareness and understanding of climate change and environmental degradation within schools in Uganda while empowering academic institutions and schoolchildren to take an active role in the solutions to environmental challenges.  

The project's first track focuses on climate change innovations at schools and community levels, while the second involves debates at regional and national levels, according to John Eremu, the Green Schools Initiative, project manager.

Eremu said more schools have expressed interest in joining the competition, owing the move to the success of the project which he said can be measured by the transformation and awareness the Initiative has created in schools.

"We are grateful that the project has attracted success and more schools are willing to join the competition. The transformation brought about by this project is testimony enough that we have moved quite a long journey, " Eremu said.

Daniel Ogwang from Comboni College School airs his views. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

Eremu, who is also the New Vision editor,  praised Vision Group for extensive coverage,  noting that the effort contributes positively towards ensuring environmental protection.

The event brought together 30 schools from around the country for the preliminary debate rounds under the theme: "Innovations that work."

The grand finale for the National debate championship will be held at Makerere University on August 28, 2024.

Background

The Green Schools Initiative was launched in 2022 with participation from 100 secondary schools across 10 regions.

Climate change finance expert Jude Kamuganga says schools contribute greatly to the environment through carbon emissions accumulated from firewood usage. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

Last year's debate championship was won by Sacred Heart Secondary School, Muhanga from Sheema district.  They took home a trophy and shillings 12 million.

The runners-up were Mengo Secondary School, Sorting SS and Ntare School.