The Water and Environment Week Launched

KAMPALA - The state Minister for Water and environment Aisha Sekindi launched the Water and environment Week 2023 on February 28th 2023 and also flagged off over 1000 Walkers as they began their 320km Journey from the Kingfisher Oil region, Kikuube District to the Ministry of Water and Environment in Luzira, Kampala City.

The trekkers are expected to trek over 320Km through districts of Kikuube, Hoima, Kyankwanzi, Kiboga, Wakiso, Nansana Municipality and lastly Kampala city at the Ministry of water and environment.

In a bid to conserve the environment and also commemorate the water and environment week, Hon. Minister Sekindi planted a Sena Siamese tree with pupils and fellow walkers at the Kingfisher Oil Region ground.

Uganda in the recent past experienced impacts of climate changes like change in weather patterns, drop in water levels, increased floods and mudslides whose social impacts are a result of man’s activities like forest degradation, deforestation and encroachment on other fragile ecosystems.

It is against this background that the Ministry of Water and Environment organised a 320Km walk for water and environment for a climate resilience. Speaking during the event, the Kikuube district boss Peter Banura called upon the Walkers to continuously raise awareness about the water and environment week 2023 since it is the major aim of the walk.

“We Kikuube as a district need to highly protect and conserve our environment since we are heading to oil and gas phase which is going to come along with a lot of industrialization and some of its impacts on the environment,” the Governor added.

Mugabi Steven the Environment Affairs Director who represented the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Water and Environment revealed that in the week-long annual event, they also commemorate other sector days like the International Day of Forests (Tuesday March 21st 2023), World Water Day (Wed, Mar 22, 2023), and the World Meteorological day (Thu, Mar 23, 2023).

The Environment Affairs Director added that by the end of the walk on the 10th March 2023, NGOs, Religious Leaders, Cultural Institutions, local Governments and all other entities along Hoima-Kampala route will be engaged on Suitable use of Water and environment resources. During the start of the walk, the walkers had covered 20km from the Kingfisher Oil Region, Buhuka to the Kyangwali Subcounty headquarters where their brief and first stopover.

On 1st March 2023, walkers trekked to Kabwooya Subcounty from Kyangwali Subcounty. Meanwhile, the Southern Region Pre- Uganda Water and Environment week climaxed with activities that included; Debate sessions for University, Secondary and Primary Students, Tree planting, clean up exercises, exhibitions, blood donation among others.

On the 6th -7th March 2023, the Uganda Water and Environment Week 2023 resumes with the National hackathon which will be held within the framework of the annual event.

Officially, the 6th Uganda Water and Environment Week (UWEK) 2023 will be held from 12th-17th March 2023 at the Ministry of Water and Environment Headquarters in Luzira under the theme, ‘Water and Environment for Climate-Resilient Development.’ Highlights of the 6th Ministry of Water and Environment Week

Pre-event:

1.Media campaign (both print and electronic media), and national and regional levels (talk shows and mobile van).
2. Walking for water, environment for climate resilient development.
3. Clean up exercises or restoration activities in regional de-concentrated structures of the Ministry of Water and Environment.
4. Hackathon, youth, and school debates, marathon, football matches, Buganda Kingdom and Uganda Joint Christian Council activities etc.

The Event

1.Commemoration of the International Sector Day
2. National Conference 12th-17th March 2023.
3. Applied training.
4. Dialogues.
5. Field visits.
6. Keynote presentations.
7. Paper and poster presentation.
8. Exhibitions.
9. Opening and closing ceremonies.

Post-event

1.Publish evaluation report, UWEK 2023 proceedings and UWEK 2023 outcomes.
2. Sustain a post event media campaign.
3. Dissemination of the outcomes and recommendations of Uganda Water and Environment Week.
4. Follow up on recommendations of Uganda Water and Environment Week by Thematic Working Groups.
5. Publishing of WRI Journal.

How to participate:

Over 2000 local and international delegates are expected to be attending both online and physical.

Participation is through;

1.Submit abstracts (not exceeding 300 words) prepared in line with the theme and sub-themes of the conference, emphasising innovations and case studies.