Students in contest to save Lake Victoria

By Job Bwire

Students from different schools around the country have converged and pledged to join the fight to save water sources, including Lake Victoria.

During the annual environmental education competition for schools 2013 hosted by Kitante Hill School over the weekend, the students said they were determined to protect water sources, especially Lake Victoria, which is at the verge of extinction.

Through poems, songs, dances and skits, the students pledged to protect Lake Victoria, among other water sources. The students, referred to themselves as the custodians of knowledge, said they would do achieve their goal through informing the people about the negative impact of human activity and the importance of water resources to the population.

“We are custodians of knowledge and have a duty to sensitise the population which is misinformed about sustainable utilisation of natural resources,” said Moses Baguma, a student of Kisaasi College.

The competition attracted 28 schools (with 30 participants per school) under the theme, Water Resource: The Contribution of the Youth.

The chairman Uganda National Examination Board, Fagil Mandy, who was the chief guest, advised schools to form clubs which will emphasise the importance of environment and wildlife to combat climate change and environmental degradation.

According to Mandy, more than 90% of the schools in Uganda do not have wildlife and environment clubs while 98% are not involved in co-curricular programmes as per the education ministry requirement.

Mandy said such clubs would equip students with knowledge, expose them to different geographical settings, and teach them to appreciate and manage the environment.

“Students cannot manage the environment when they are not empowered and exposed. Peripheral things should not stop students from joining clubs since they are the primary beneficiaries,” Mandy said.

The overall male winner of the contest, Moses Waibi from Kiira College Butiki, appealed to the Government to formulate environment-friendly policies, while Gaddafi Nawal, from Kisaasi College, who emerged overall female winner encouraged the youth to manage the environment through sustainable use.