Ayeni starts walking expedition from Kampala to Adjumani

This send-off was much better than last year's. This time around, the legendary Prisons brass band was in the house. Their music filled the air at the opulent complex housing the Ministry of Water and Environment at Luzira.

This was at the ceremony organised by the ministry and civil society organisations to flag off a team of walkers led Geoffrey Walker Ayeni.

Ayeni's team is expected to cover about 500kms from Kampala to Zoka Forest in Adjumani. They will make stopovers at different primary schools to plant trees and also spread the gospel of conservation.

The team of walkers will also engage in a tree planting at Nakasongola during the national events to commemorate Women's Day at Nakasongola.

"We will have activities in Nakasongola on International Women's Day and hope to be in Adjumani on March 18," said Ayeni, adding that Women's Day is one of the national tree planting days.

The Prisons band was on hand to perform at the send-off. Photo by Jimmy Luyima

William Amazulu a resident of Adjumani and a self-confessed environment activist who has been fighting against the illegal extraction of trees particularly mahogany trees is among the walkers.

Sam Cheptoris, the minister of water and environment who was accompanied by top ministry officials and civil society organisations flagged off Ayeni on Monday morning.

The permanent secretary Alfred Akidi planted a tree which he named Zoka at the ministry headquarters.

Tom Okello the executive director of the National Forestry Authority also planted a tree.

Christopher Tusiime of Care International said forests contribute to resilience and that is why they were supporting Ayeni's walking campaign.

Ayeni has previously been engaged in walking campaigns from Kampala to Kapchorwa, Kampala to Kasese. He returned to Kapchorwa last year.