Ayeni's walking expedition from Kampala to cross River Nile

Mar 10, 2019

The walkers have covered parts of central Uganda including Nakasongola district where they planted trees

Geoffrey Walker Ayeni who is leading a team of 12 walkers on a walking expedition from Kampala to Adjumani is expected to cover half of the 500km journey by end of Monday.

Ayeni's team was on Monday last week flagged off by Sam Cheptoris, the minister of water and environment at ministry's headquarters in Luzira, Kampala.

For this walk, the ministry has partnered with the National Forestry Authority (NFA), Walkers Association of Uganda, Friends of Zoka, Partners for Resilience, Care International and the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

"We are all in good shape and we hope to hit Karuma on Monday afternoon," said Ayeni, adding that the walkers spent the weekend at Kiryadongo from where they will proceed to Karuma.

he twoweek expedition is going to be concluded on arch 18 hoto by erald enywaThe two-week expedition is going to be concluded on March 18. Photo by Gerald Tenywa

 

Karuma sits on the southern banks of River Nile. It is located 250km from Kampala and this is about halfway from Adjumani or Zoka Forest Reserve, which is the final destination for the walkers. They will cross the Nile on Tuesday morning.

The walkers have covered parts of central Uganda including Nakasongola district where they planted trees together with different groups during the UN Women's Day celebrations.

"We have been planting trees at schools organised at different stopovers," said Ayeni, adding that the trees have been provided by NFA.

In addition to the trees distributed to the schools, NFA has provided tree seedlings to the residents in the neighbourhood of the schools.

Walk part of UWEK, SDGs

Ayeni's two weeks expedition that is going to be concluded on March 18 is part of the Uganda Water and Environment Week (UWEK) that will take place on March 18-24, 2018.

he group has planted trees together along the way hoto by erald enywaThe group has planted trees together along the way. Photo by Gerald Tenywa

 

It will be held at Entebbe and President Yoweri Museveni is expected to preside over the opening ceremony.

The walk will also create awareness about the need to protect the environment, restore ecological systems and fight climate change.

It will contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that were agreed on by world leaders including Museveni. The goals include Goal 6 on access to safe water and sanitation. It also includes the protection of catchment for the water. The goals also include Goal 13 which is about combating climate change.

Ayeni's walk will also contribute to SDG 15 that aims to protect and restore ecological systems and sustainably manage forests.

The ultimate aim of SDG 16 is to halt biodiversity loss.

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