Clean environment for one earth
Apr 26, 2024
“Our goal is to beautify Uganda and be proud of it,” Stober said. “This initiative should commence right from our homes and then to the communities.”
Moses Walusimbi the Mutungo local chairman cleaning the area surrounding the channel with a lady and a youth. (Photos by Maureen Nakatudde)
Maureen Nakatudde
Journalist @New Vision
___________________ Ken Stober, the Chief Executive Officer of Simplifi Network Ltd, Bugolobi with Moustapher Muhammed , a logistic manager at the company helping to build the bridge Some of the area residents building the bridge
On an early cool Monday morning, the residents of Bugolobi, Mutungo, and Kitintale are seen surrounding a bridge.
The wooden bridge joins the gated confines of Bugolobi to those of the slummy areas of Kitintale connecting to areas of Luzira and Mutungo.
The bridge is above a deep channel of water, which floods and pours over into the adjacent people’s homes.
A closer scrutiny reveals members are assembling pieces of wood and nailing them with hammers. On the other hand, others are picking rubbish from the surrounding areas while a few are cleaning the water channel. As usual, every job has the lazy worms, these linger behind while having hushed conversations as they wait for the bridge to be completed.
Ken Stober, the Chief Executive Officer of Simplifi Network Ltd, Bugolobi, the major sponsor of the bridge in partnership with the community members revealed that they have decided to work on the bridge in celebration of International Earth Day, which is April 22.
“Our goal is to beautify Uganda and be proud of it,” Stober said. “This initiative should commence right from our homes and then to the communities.”
He urged people to opt for proper garbage disposal. This included picking up the trash, taking it home instead of dumping it in the road, and also recycling it. This is in line with this year’s theme of World Earth Day: “Planet vs. Plastics.”
“Let us be proud Ugandans not only with patriotism but also have a clean environment,” he said. “We only have one earth, which we will leave to our children and their children will be able to see and enjoy it as well. If we destroy it, then the damage will affect everybody.”
According to Bosco Ssebaggala the coordination of the exercise, Simplifi Network Ltd has been pivotal in maintaining and rebuilding the bridge over the last four years.
Moses Walusimbi the Mutungo local chairman said they sought permission from Kampala City Council Authority to work on the bridge. He said this was necessary because of the risk of the rainy season presented.
“We had a fear that since the water was too much, it would worsen the already weakening woods,” said Ssebaggala who is also the local chairman and five councillors in KCCA. “We decided to work on it so that it can be easily accessible and usable by cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians.’’
Alice Nabukenya, a resident of Mutungo who uses the bridge thrice a day was appreciative of the whole exercise because it will help them pass safely to their destinations.
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