The good news email was received with excitement at Gender-Environment and Development Action's secretariat that was confirming our own Mr. Baluku Yosia as a member of the cohort 5 fellowship. GE'DA, which means 'Together Build' is a 3 months intensive training that focuses on building the technical expertise, cross-cultural bridges and designing solutions to transform communities across Africa and building the Africa we want. Mr. Yosia informed the secretariat that this program has already started and will run for the next 3 months where he will be connecting and networking with over seventy leading change advocates that were selected by Donors For Africa (DFA) the sponsors of this program from economic, political, arts, social change, media and Educational leaders drawn from close to 1,300 applications from over 30 African countries. He further added that it was a very competitive process and therefore wasn't taking it for granted being part of the 5th cohort for this program. Yosia said this program model is designed from a proven African technical curriculum that addresses the African continent's unique challenges, opportunities, and needs while leveraging on global expertise and technology to drive positive social change. Yosia thanked Donors For Africa for having considered him and the organisation to be part of this prestigious 3 months session and said it won't leave him the same but rather improve his capacity of handling issues at Gender-Environment and Development to better serve the communities.
The good news email was received with excitement at Gender-Environment and Development Action’s secretariat that was confirming our own Mr. Baluku Yosia as a member of the cohort 5 fellowship.
GE’DA, which means ‘Together Build’ is a 3 months intensive training that focuses on building the technical expertise, cross-cultural bridges and designing solutions to transform communities across Africa and building the Africa we want.
Mr. Yosia informed the secretariat that this program has already started and will run for the next 3 months where he will be connecting and networking with over seventy leading change advocates that were selected by Donors For Africa (DFA) the sponsors of this program from economic, political, arts, social change, media and Educational leaders drawn from close to 1,300 applications from over 30 African countries.
He further added that it was a very competitive process and therefore wasn’t taking it for granted being part of the 5th cohort for this program. Yosia said this program model is designed from a proven African technical curriculum that addresses the African continent’s unique challenges, opportunities, and needs while leveraging on global expertise and technology to drive positive social change.
Yosia thanked Donors For Africa for having considered him and the organisation to be part of this prestigious 3 months session and said it won’t leave him the same but rather improve his capacity of handling issues at Gender-Environment and Development to better serve the communities.
Menstrual Hygiene Day (MHD, MH Day in short) is an annual awareness day on May 28 to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) at a global level. In developing countries, women's choices of menstrual hygiene materials are often limited by the costs, availability and social norms. Adequate sanitation facilities and access to feminine hygiene products are important but opening discussion making adequate education for women and girls is of equal importance. Research has found that not having access to menstrual hygiene management products can keep girls home from school during their period each month. Therefore Menstrual Hygiene Day is an occasion for publicizing information in the media, including social media, organized gatherings and to engage decision-makers in policy dialogue. The day aims to advocate for the integration of menstrual hygiene management into global, national and local policies and programs. More specifically MH day; breaks the silence, raises awareness and changes negative social norms around MHH, and engages decision-makers to increase the political priority and catalyse action for MHH, at global, national and local levels. MH Day has grown tremendously since it was first celebrated in 2014 In emulating the same objective Kasese District and her development partners commemorated the day on 21st July 2023 at Ngaiga Primary School, in Maliba Town council-Kasese District under the global theme “Making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030”. A highly attended event that commenced with a band around the Town council had several primary and secondary schools’ students and teachers including parents and several stakeholders. Performance after performance, presentation after the other clearly communicated the awareness about menstrual hygiene and the reason why it is necessary to create awareness if girls must stay in school. Speaking at the function the team leader at Save the Children Kasese field office highlighted
Menstrual Hygiene Day (MHD,MH Day in short) is an annual awareness day on May 28 to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) at a global level.
In developing countries, women’s choices of menstrual hygiene materials are often limited by the costs, availability and social norms.
Adequate sanitation facilities and access to feminine hygiene products are important but opening discussion making adequate education for women and girls is of equal importance. Research has found that not having access to menstrual hygiene management products can keep girls home from school during their period each month.
Therefore Menstrual Hygiene Day is an occasion for publicizing information in the media, including social media, organized gatherings and to engage decision-makers in policy dialogue. The day aims to advocate for the integration of menstrual hygiene management into global, national and local policies and programs.
More specifically MH day;
breaks the silence, raises awareness and changes negative social norms around MHH, and
engages decision-makers to increase the political priority and catalyse action for MHH, at global, national and local levels.
MH Day has grown tremendously since it was first celebrated in 2014
In emulating the same objective Kasese District and her development partners commemorated the day on 21st July 2023 at Ngaiga Primary School, in Maliba Town council-Kasese District under the global theme “Making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030”.
A highly attended event that commenced with a band around the Town council had several primary and secondary schools’ students and teachers including parents and several stakeholders.
Kick off of the event with an awareness band.
Performance after performance, presentation after the other clearly communicated the awareness about menstrual hygiene and the reason why it is necessary to create awareness if girls must stay in school.
Speaking at the function the team leader at Save the Children Kasese field office highlighted that Girls lose 10% of their time during menstruation time as revealed by a research conducted by SNV, he challenged partners to do more research and prioritize MH in their programming.
The chief guest of the function the Kasese District Woman MP, Hon.Kabugho Florence appreciated the District and Partners for having organized the function and asked that this should be a continuous engagement since it’s a normal thing that Government and partners should continue addressing.
She emphasized the hands on skills trainings for the make of reusable sanitary pads at schools so as to help them, Providing Wash rooms at schools specifically for this purpose since this was one of the biggest issues reported from schools reports. Hon. Florence also promised that as Women Parliamentarians, they are trying to find ways of providing sanitary pads freely to girls. She wondered why condoms were provided freely even when sex is a choice unlike menstruation.
Hon. Woman MP and Chief guest addressing citizens.
She also warned some men who are raping their very own children to stop that very dangerous that was being reported in some areas. The Hon. Chief guest encouraged students to continue studying irrespective of their schools and also Requested the District Education office to consider having more female teachers in schools that have less on non to help girls during their period days.
The Hon. MP led the District and partners in signing a charter that read as follows;
Honourable Member of Parliament Kabugho Florence signing the charter. Several other partners and the District leadership signed this charter and committed to follow the contents therein to the dot.
Gender-Environment and Development Action committed too to the charter as this is also very key in our programming as an institution.
Partners also contributed items including sanitary pads and nickers that were distributed to the schools in attendance. The items were handed over to the District Education department by the Hon. Chief guest.
Access to sufficient amounts of safe food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health. Foodborne illnesses are usually infectious or toxic in nature and often invisible to the plain eye, caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances entering the body through contaminated food or water. Food safety has a critical role in assuring that food stays safe at every stage of the food chain - from production to harvest, processing, storage, distribution, all the way to preparation and consumption. According to World Health Organisation (WHO),1 600 000 people get sick due to unsafe food in one day, on average, 340 Children under 5 years of age die due to preventable food borne diseases, on average, every day and 200 Diseases are caused by unsafe food, ranging from diarrhea to cancers. We commemorate this year's day with a theme "Food standards Saves Lives" At GEDA Uganda we contribute towards consumer empowerment through awareness raising on optimal food safety and consumer rights. We are cognizant of the fact that when it's not safe then it's not food". We are committed to empowering consumers to make right choices of their food choices. We are also reminding each one of us that there is no food and nutrition security without food safety. We call upon community members to embrace optimal food handling practice for safer food. Bwambale Benard Food systems and Health -GEDA Uganda.
Access to sufficient amounts of safe food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health. Foodborne illnesses are usually infectious or toxic in nature and often invisible to the plain eye, caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances entering the body through contaminated food or water.
Food safety has a critical role in assuring that food stays safe at every stage of the food chain – from production to harvest, processing, storage, distribution, all the way to preparation and consumption.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO),1 600 000 people get sick due to unsafe food in one day, on average, 340 Children under 5 years of age die due to preventable food borne diseases, on average, every day and 200 Diseases are caused by unsafe food, ranging from diarrhea to cancers.
We commemorate this year’s day with a theme “Food standards Saves Lives”
At GEDA Uganda we contribute towards consumer empowerment through awareness raising on optimal food safety and consumer rights.
We are cognizant of the fact that when it’s not safe then it’s not food”.
We are committed to empowering consumers to make right choices of their food choices.
We are also reminding each one of us that there is no food and nutrition security without food safety.
We call upon community members to embrace optimal food handling practice for safer food.
Today, millions of women and girls around the world are stigmatised, excluded and discriminated against simply because they menstruate. It’s not acceptable that because of a natural bodily function women and girls continue to be prevented from getting an education, earning an income and fully and equally participating in everyday life. Poor menstrual hygiene caused by a lack of education, persisting taboos and stigma, limited access to hygienic menstrual products and poor sanitation infrastructure undermines the educational opportunities, health and overall social status of women and girls around the world. As a result, millions of women and girls are prevented from reaching their full potential. Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is a global advocacy platform that brings together non-profits, government agencies, individuals, the private sector and the media to promote good menstrual health and hygiene (MHH). More specifically, MH Day: Breaks the silence, raises awareness and changes negative social norms around MHH, and engages decision-makers to increase the political priority and catalyse action for MHH, at global, national and local levels. Like other partners, Gender-Environment and Development Action would like to wish everyone a happy #MHDay. We are committed to ending the stigma around this by; Breaking the taboos and end the stigma surrounding menstruation. Raising awareness about the challenges regarding access to menstrual products, education about menstruation and period-friendly sanitation facilities.
Today, millions of women and girls around the world are stigmatised, excluded and discriminated against simply because they menstruate.
It’s not acceptable that because of a natural bodily function women and girls continue to be prevented from getting an education, earning an income and fully and equally participating in everyday life.
Poor menstrual hygiene caused by a lack of education, persisting taboos and stigma, limited access to hygienic menstrual products and poor sanitation infrastructure undermines the educational opportunities, health and overall social status of women and girls around the world. As a result, millions of women and girls are prevented from reaching their full potential.
Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is a global advocacy platform that brings together non-profits, government agencies, individuals, the private sector and the media to promote good menstrual health and hygiene (MHH). More specifically, MH Day:
Breaks the silence, raises awareness and changes negative social norms around MHH, and
engages decision-makers to increase the political priority and catalyse action for MHH, at global, national and local levels.
Like other partners, Gender-Environment and Development Action would like to wish everyone a happy #MHDay. We are committed to ending the stigma around this by;
Breaking the taboos and end the stigma surrounding menstruation.
Raising awareness about the challenges regarding access to menstrual products, education about menstruation and period-friendly sanitation facilities.
Forests cover one third of the Earth's land mass, performing vital functions around the world. Approximately 1.6 billion people - including more than 2,000 indigenous cultures - depend on forests for their livelihoods, medicines, fuel, food and shelter. Uganda‘s diverse forest ecosystem is important for both nature conservation and human development through the water cycle and soil development. These forests are a required partner for the agricultural sector, the country’s backbone. However, the country continues to suffer from unprecedented rates of deforestation and forest degradation and destruction of other natural/protected areas like wetlands, swamps despite concerted efforts by government and non-government actors to protect and restore these natural resources. Overall, the country has been losing on average 122,000 ha/year of forest every year from 1990-2015 with greatest loss in the country estimated at 250,000 ha of forests per year between 2010 and 2015 (MWE 2016). In 2010, Kasese had 153kha of tree cover, extending over 46% of its land area. In 2021, it lost 596ha of tree cover, equivalent to 328kt of CO₂ emissions. From 2000 to 2020, Kasese experienced a net change of -2.10kha (-1.9%) in tree cover. https://www.globalforestwatch.org. The major causes of these destructions have been linked to Kasese's rapid population growth, bad farming methods across hilly areas that have left them bare, unguided agricultural activities along river banks and swamps and wetlands, massive deforestation among others. For example the national census of 1969 enumerated the population of Kasese Town at 7,213 people. In 1980, the census that year put the population of the town at 9,917. In 1991, the national census numerated 18,750 inhabitants in Kasese. That population had increased to 85,697 people, according to the 2002 national census. On 27 August 2014, the census and national housing survey enumerated 101,065 people in Kasese Town Council In
Forests cover one third of the Earth’s land mass, performing vital functions around the world. Approximately 1.6 billion people – including more than 2,000 indigenous cultures – depend on forests for their livelihoods, medicines, fuel, food and shelter.
Uganda‘s diverse forest ecosystem is important for both nature conservation and human development through the water cycle and soil development. These forests are a required partner for the agricultural sector, the country’s backbone.
However, the country continues to suffer from unprecedented rates of deforestation and forest degradation and destruction of other natural/protected areas like wetlands, swamps despite concerted efforts by government and non-government actors to protect and restore these natural resources.
Overall, the country has been losing on average 122,000 ha/year of forest every year from 1990-2015 with greatest loss in the country estimated at 250,000 ha of forests per year between 2010 and 2015 (MWE 2016).
In 2010, Kasese had 153kha of tree cover, extending over 46% of its land area. In 2021, it lost 596ha of tree cover, equivalent to 328kt of CO₂ emissions. From 2000 to 2020, Kasese experienced a net change of -2.10kha (-1.9%) in tree cover. https://www.globalforestwatch.org.
The major causes of these destructions have been linked to Kasese’s rapid population growth, bad farming methods across hilly areas that have left them bare, unguided agricultural activities along river banks and swamps and wetlands, massive deforestation among others.
For example the national census of 1969 enumerated the population of Kasese Town at 7,213 people. In 1980, the census that year put the population of the town at 9,917. In 1991, the national census numerated 18,750 inhabitants in Kasese. That population had increased to 85,697 people, according to the 2002 national census. On 27 August 2014, the census and national housing survey enumerated 101,065 people in Kasese Town Council
In 2020, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), estimated the mid-year population of the town at 115,400 inhabitants. UBOS calculated that the population of Kasese Municipality increased at an average rate of 2.3 percent annually, between 2014 and 2020.
Looking at this population trend you would expect a serious competition on the limited land that never expands but also surrounded with two national parks, Queen Elizabeth and Mt.Rwenzori, the lakes and rivers among others.
As a result several disasters have hit kasese District and Kasese Municipality has either not been spared.
In May 2020 Kasese experienced one of the worst disasters in her history. This followed a massive one that had earlier happened in 2013, the floods ravaged the entire Municipality and left properties worth millions of shillings and some lives lost. This was the start of the striking nature that had either been tampered with by the local communities that facilitated the catastrophe. https://gedauganda.org/floods-ravage-kasese-destroy-kilembe-mines-hospital-and-other-property-worth-billions-of-money-again/
To-date the effects and damage of the 2013 & 2020 floods are still vivid especially in Kilembe and the lower parts of Kasese Municipality, there has been a repeat of these floods though not at the magnitude of the 2020 situation.
Photos above: Remains of the houses during the 2013 & 2020 floods in Kilembe and heavy debris carried by the flooded Nyamwamba river then.
In 2022 another serious disaster of mudslides happened in Kasika a small trading center at the out skirts of Kasese central Municipality killing 16 persons and leaving property worth huge sums of money destroyed. People were left homeless and re-located to an internally displaced peoples’ camp (IDP) to-date.
Photos: Destruction of property and lives in Kasika September 2022 mudslides-Kasese
These catastrophes are not about to end unless measures have been put in place to stop this.
However, all is not lost. The Government of Uganda is doing all it’s best to avert such situations in the entire country. Currently the restoration of the Nyamwamba river valley in Kasese Municipality is being done as one of the efforts to put an end to this river flooding. Several other efforts are being done by different stakeholders to supplement the Government efforts.
In the same vein, Kasese Municipality and Expertise France, under the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) initiative to make cities in Sub Saharan Africa resilient in the fight against climate change and ensuring access to clean energy are supporting the municipality to;
Conduct a land cover and landuse mapping and assessment for Kasese Municipality with focus on forest cover, develop an urban forest management action plan and a practical implementation strategy and as well build local capacity in GIS and urban forest management and;
Develop an inventory of wetlands and river banks in Kasese Municipality, survey, demarcate their boundaries and develop a wetland management plan with a practical implementation strategy and build local capacity in participatory community based approaches to restoration of degraded wetlands.
All this is being done with technical guidance of Gender-Environment and Development Action Uganda, a Ugandan not for profit organization with expertise and experience in Environment management.
Several activities have been going on and the recent one has been building the capacity of the community (20 TOTs) in practical implementation of the developed wetland management strategy, opening up, survey and demarcating the boundaries of all wetlands and river banks in Kasese Municipality to prevent further encroachment on the same.
Demarcating the Kasesa wetland in central Division-Kasese MC Surveying one of the wetlands in Kilembe
Gender Environment and Development Action has played a role in this restoration after a partnership with Kasese Municipality and Expertise France. A number of other activities are still at large to complete the assignment including planting beacons along the boundaries of wetlands and river banks in Kasese Municiplaity, develop a comprehensive wetlands management action plan and its practical implementation strategy emphasizing priority actions for the different wetlands.
Photos above: During the demarcating of the Kasesa Wetland by GEDA Uganda and Voyage technologies.
The restoration work and safeguarding these natural resources to prevent a repeat of the previous catastrophes is however not a one man’s assignment and still needs a lot of efforts from different stakeholders. There is need to do more sensitization of the communities to understand the risks of destroying these places, afforestation especially in the already destroyed hilly and river bank areas among others.
It is our responsibility as stakeholders and actors in this sector to provide leadership and guidance to our communities for a resilient and dignified lives for all.
The good news email was received with excitement at Gender-Environment and Development Action’s secretariat that was confirming our own Mr. Baluku Yosia as a member of the cohort 5 fellowship.
