By Spy Uganda
Fortportal: During the monthly cleanup campaign that took place this weekend in lorry park Kisenyi Fort Portal, youths resolved to table a bill to the district council restricting the entrance of polythene bags into their clean tourism City.
READ ALSO: Tooro Youth Launch ‘Free Fort Portal City & Mpanga River From Polythene, Plastics’ Campaign
Fort Portal monthly cleanup campaign is organized by AFRIYEA and its partners; RFPJ,AADI Enterprises, Jubilee radio, everybody’s kitchen, Uganda Red Cross Society(URCS) Kabarole, Acodev, Tooro discovery tours, among many others.
The “free Fort Portal City and river Mpanga from plastics and polythene bags” campaign kicked off last year and it has since curbed circulation of polyethen bags in the region.
The Ministry of Water and Environment from the Albertine Zone Water Management applauded the youths for coming up with a great initiative to free the town and the river from synthetic materials which has led to the degradation of soils, water and also resulted into loss of lives.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Water and Environment and AWMZ, I would wish to appreciate the initiative of AFRIYEA in a bid to protect and conserve water resources and continue to call upon all stakeholders to follow suit and support the youth in ensuring a safe and sustainably managed environment,” said Ahimbisibwe Justus from Ministry of Water.
“As stipulated in the ministry’s vision, we are dedicated and committed in protecting water resources including River Mpanga to ensure provision of adequate water of good quality to the population,” he added.
It’s from this background that Isaiah Mwesige the CEO of AFRIYEA emphasized on the enactment of by-laws to restrict the plastics and polythene bags coming to their beautiful town to degrade its environment.
He also said AFRIYEA has already engaged schools to begin environment clubs which can advocate for environment conservation.
He further launched the campaign to get dustbins for all the public places and schools in the region.
Mr. Mwesige noted that the monthly awareness campaigns with full action of rubbish collection and advocacy shall continue till when Fort Portal attains the status of being the cleanest City in Africa.
Francis from Rwenzori Forum for Peace and Justice extended his special appreciation to AFRIYEA and all other stake holders for having embraced the initiative aiming at conserving the environment. His organization contributed 70 masks and also paid for a radio talk show to help in creating more awareness for this great cause of freeing Fort Portal City and river Mpanga from plastics and polythene bags.
Various media houses were also available and pledged to offer their support inform of coverage.
The Indian community represented by AADI enterprises were also actively seen collecting the waste and also supported the cause with ten reflectors all aimed at kicking polythene bags out of Uganda’s tourism City-Fortportal.
