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HOIMA

The Mothers Union of the Bunyoro Kitara diocese have launched keep Hoima free from plastics campaign as part of the efforts to fight against degradation of the environment.

The campaign will also help to sensitize and mobilise women Christians in the fight against or to cope with the effects of climate change.

The initiative which was launched by the Bishop of Bunyoro Kitara diocese Samuel Kahuma on Tuesday is part of the activities of the Mother’s Union ahead of the Easter celebrations in the diocese.

Grace Mukugize, the diocesan Mothers Union president said it is vital that women are mobilized to take part in safeguarding the environment and the fight against climate change. She described mothers or women as the stewards of the environment.

Mukugize encouraged all women to embark on the same campaign when they get back to their respective churches and also in their homes which will be beneficial to climate change and environment conservation.

“We are working with Hoima City council in ensuring that we clean the city so that we can stay in a very good environment,” Mukugize said.

Bishop Kahuma asked the women to ensure that they spearhead the keep Hoima City clean and asked people to ensure that they live responsible lives.

Bishop Samuel Kahuma joining the women in the cleanup exercise on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Wilson Asiimwe)

Sylivia Nalumaga the deputy mayor for Hoima City appreciated the mother’s union for the initiative which she said will help to keep the city clean.

Nalumaga asked the people in the diocese to ensure that they stop littering the city with plastics and polyethene bags.

Hoima city authorities recently revived the monthly "clean Fort portal campaign" in a bid to keep the city clean.

The exercise involved general cleaning of the entire city suburbs, desilting the drainage system, and clearing all anti-malarial drains.

Nalumaga, said they intend to intensify their campaign to cause a mindset change through absolute sensitization of masses through various platforms to overcome the increasing littering in the city.

Joseph Mwesige, a fresh food vendor in Hoima central market said that the exercise should be rolled out in the remaining division of West.

“The exercise should shift focus on people with poor hygiene facilities. Many people don’t have latrines in the city and even those that have most of them are full and substandard, which exposes the lives of the users to danger,” he said.

Environmental activists have been accusing Hoima City authorities of ignoring hygiene in the town that is hosting people involved in oil production in the Albertine graben.

Mwesige said that the city has been choking with uncollected heaps of garbage. “The most affected areas include Hoima tax park, Hoima central market, Wright Road and some of the sanitary lanes in the town.

Jackline Kansiime, a resident of Kiryatete faults the authorities for failing to remove the garbage for over a month.

According to Kansiime, the uncollected garbage has polluted the entire neighborhood, which is affecting their operations.

“The stench from the uncollected heaps of garbage has been scaring away our customers, the city council authorities haven’t responded to our pleas,” she said.