Uganda's Earth hour celebrated in the dark

 

The lights were switched off for one hour in Katonga Hall, Serena Hotel in Kampala on Saturday evening. Candles were lit to provide light to the patrons.

 

This was part of a movement referred to as Earth Hour that started in Sydney Austria in 2007 and today, it is celebrated in 180 countries. Prior to the Earth Hour, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) organised competitions for schools and a university challenge.

 

They did not disappoint. The children recorded news bulletins with Radio Capital and University students came up with innovations that can be used to adapt to climate change or mitigate the causes of climate change.

 Children with candles during the Earth Hour

 

The schools include Kampala Parents School Kitante Primary School, Nakasero Primary School. The universities included Makerere, Kyambogo, and Kampala International University and Uganda Christian University. Edgars Academy was engaged in a video that has gone viral globally.

 

Godfrey Kiwanda, the state minister for tourism gave out awards to Kyambogo University which topped the University innovations challenge. He also lectured the patrons on how to protect the Earth. "People cut down trees and they think that is development," he said, adding that villages have become one big garden and that it is easy for wind to sweep through villages.

 

WWF's Country director in Uganda, David Duli said they were focusing on young people because they are the ones who are going to inherit the Earth.

 

 Patrons in black shirts celebrating

The patrons who were invited by WWF were clad in black T-shirts reading Earth Hour 60+. They were also lavished with drinks and dinner before the lights were switched off. 

 

They took selfies which they twitted and exchange with their friends on social media. It was about creating awareness about avoiding waste of energy, water, and food.

 

The corporates included Barclays, Fair Ventures, Coca-Cola who funded some of the activities leading to the Earth Hour. There were also representatives from the New Forests Company. Government entities included the National Forestry Authority, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Environment Alert was among the Civil Society Organisatons that attended.