In Uganda, it’s estimated that 29% of children aged 6-59 months are stunted, 4% wasted and 11% underweight with the highest burden of stunting (40.6%) among children under five years registered in the Tooro sub region(UBOS, 2016) where Kasese District is located. In addition, Kasese District is battling with a high caseload of stunting among children aged 6-59 months at 44.9% way above the Tooro sub regional and National statistics (Enos Mirembe Masereka, 2020). Stunting affects the physical and cognitive development of children affecting school performance (UNICEF, 2023). Additionally, it compromises the child’s immunity increasing their risks to infections as well as affecting the overall health and productivity of human beings (WHO, 2020)(Worldbank, 2021). Following this trend, Gender-Environment and Development Action conducted a research in Kasese District, particularly in Busongora North, one of the counties with the highest rate of teenage mothers to ascertain the stunting of Children aged 6-59 months born to teenage mothers. 337 teenage mothers from 36 villages of Maliba, Bugoye sub counties and Rugendabara and Kitswamba Sub-counties in Busongora North. The results showed that 56.4% of the children tested were stunted a very worrying number. Below is a summary of the findings; 75% of the teenage mothers had a caesarean mode of delivery - 41.2% of the children were born as preterm(before 9months) - 78% of the mothers joined primary school - 19% reached secondary school - Only 3% had started some form of a course - 91.9% were totally unemployed - Only 3.9% earned atleast a wage - 6.2% delivered from home supported by traditional birth attendants(TBA) - 69% earned/got not more than 50K Ugx in a month - 47% had very poor food consumption patterns including feeding on unsafe food. Note: 56.4% of the children born to teenage mothers were stunted with 38.6% a
In Uganda, it’s estimated that 29% of children aged 6-59 months are stunted, 4% wasted and
11% underweight with the highest burden of stunting (40.6%) among children under five years
registered in the Tooro sub region(UBOS, 2016) where Kasese District is located. In addition,
Kasese District is battling with a high caseload of stunting among children aged 6-59 months at
44.9% way above the Tooro sub regional and National statistics (Enos Mirembe Masereka,
2020).
Stunting affects the physical and cognitive development of children affecting school
performance (UNICEF, 2023). Additionally, it compromises the child’s immunity increasing
their risks to infections as well as affecting the overall health and productivity of human beings
(WHO, 2020)(Worldbank, 2021).
Following this trend, Gender-Environment and Development Action conducted a research in Kasese District, particularly in Busongora North, one of the counties with the highest rate of teenage mothers to ascertain the stunting of Children aged 6-59 months born to teenage mothers. 337 teenage mothers from 36 villages of Maliba, Bugoye sub counties and Rugendabara and Kitswamba Sub-counties in Busongora North. The results showed that 56.4% of the children tested were stunted a very worrying number. Below is a summary of the findings;
75% of the teenage mothers had a caesarean mode of delivery
– 41.2% of the children were born as preterm(before 9months)
– 78% of the mothers joined primary school
– 19% reached secondary school
– Only 3% had started some form of a course
– 91.9% were totally unemployed
– Only 3.9% earned atleast a wage
– 6.2% delivered from home supported by traditional birth attendants(TBA)
– 69% earned/got not more than 50K Ugx in a month
– 47% had very poor food consumption patterns including feeding on unsafe food.
Note: 56.4% of the children born to teenage mothers were stunted with 38.6% a
As the world food safety day comes closer-6th June 2024, GEDA Uganda is mandated and will continue sensitizing the masses about the dangers of unsafe food, malnutrition and do what it can to change the status quo in our communities.
Consumers are drivers of the economy as they have the power to influence the quality of goods and services provided by different actors including government, business/private sector, Civil Society Organizations and other relevant entities. The consumers’ influence however can only be felt if they understand and utilize their rights and responsibilities. In order to strengthen the empowerment of consumers on their rights and responsibilities as well as other consumer protection issues, the entire world commemorates the World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) every 15th March annually reflecting on different themes. According to the Ministry of Health (MoH,2023), Food borne illnesses resulting from food safety concerns are currently responsible for about 14% of the total disease burden in Uganda. Similarly numerous food safety concerns have been reported in Kasese District over the past few years. On the other hand the Uganda demographic health survey (UDHS, 2016) indicated that 40.6% of the children under the age of five years in the Tooro region where Kasese District lies are stunted amidst plenty of food production. Another study conducted in Kasese in 2023, indicated that 56% of children under the age of five years borne to teenage mothers were stunted (Bwambale, 2023). In regards to the above, GEDA Uganda together with her partners CONSENT and (Food Safety Coalition Uganda decided to launch a food safety, nutrition and consumer protection sensitization campaign in Kasese leveraging on the WCRD events. In this campaign GEDA and partners targeted the media fraternity comprised of journalists from different media houses and Masters of Ceremonies (MCs) resident in Kasese Municipality and District. Targeting the media was meant to empower the media team to ably cascade the same message to the rest of the community members given their day to day engagements with the masses on radios, Televisions (TVs), newspapers and at
Consumers are drivers of the economy as they have the power to influence the quality of goods
and services provided by different actors including government, business/private sector, Civil
Society Organizations and other relevant entities. The consumers’ influence however can only be
felt if they understand and utilize their rights and responsibilities. In order to strengthen the
empowerment of consumers on their rights and responsibilities as well as other consumer
protection issues, the entire world commemorates the World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD)
every 15th March annually reflecting on different themes.
According to the Ministry of Health (MoH,2023), Food borne illnesses resulting from food safety
concerns are currently responsible for about 14% of the total disease burden in Uganda. Similarly
numerous food safety concerns have been reported in Kasese District over the past few years.
On the other hand the Uganda demographic health survey (UDHS, 2016) indicated that 40.6% of
the children under the age of five years in the Tooro region where Kasese District lies are stunted
amidst plenty of food production. Another study conducted in Kasese in 2023, indicated that 56%
of children under the age of five years borne to teenage mothers were stunted (Bwambale, 2023).
In regards to the above, GEDA Uganda together with her partners CONSENT and (Food Safety Coalition Uganda decided to launch a food safety, nutrition and consumer protection sensitization
campaign in Kasese leveraging on the WCRD events. In this campaign GEDA and partners targeted
the media fraternity comprised of journalists from different media houses and Masters of
Ceremonies (MCs) resident in Kasese Municipality and District. Targeting the media was meant
to empower the media team to ably cascade the same message to the rest of the community
members given their day to day engagements with the masses on radios, Televisions (TVs),
newspapers and at functions such as weddings, parties and funerals among others. Similarly,
targeting the media was to ensure increased advocacy for safer food and consumer protection
using the available media channels.
A number of topics ranging from consumer rights and responsibilities, food safety, nutrition,
comparative testing and consumer complaints’ mechanism were presented and discussed during
the media engagement.
Participants giving their comments during the training.
Consumer rights and Responsibilities
As part of the commemoration of the WCRD, the participants were explicitly taken through the
8 consumer rights and 5 consumer responsibilities. This was meant to empower the media team
with more knowledge on the rights and responsibilities of the consumers to guarantee their
protection and safety.
During the engagement a number o f recommendations were given such as;
The participants recommended that GEDA and CONSENT considers working with their radio
listeners’ clubs that have over 2000 members across the region so as to effectively
disseminate the information further.
They also recommended that CONSENT engages the radio owners on the subject of
food safety, nutrition and consumer rights and responsibilities to ensure that radio
programs are designed specifically to tackle issues of food and consumer protection
The radio presenters asked for support from CONSENT so that they can also run live
broadcasts/pops in different areas on such days like world consumer rights day, world
food safety day, world standards day and world food day among others.
The media team urged CONSENT to actively and closely work in partnership with the
local government leaders, local CBOs/Organizations, religious and cultural institutions
to disseminate the food safety information and consumer empowerment.
A number of commitments were registered;
The participants committed to be ambassadors of food safety, nutrition and consumer
rights and responsibilities during their day to day life at their household and community
levels.
The media personalities committed to popularize the message on food safety, nutrition
and consumer protection during their different radio programs
The journalists committed to frequently report food safety, nutrition and consumer
rights issues in their news bulletins so as to foster joint advocacy and awareness
The MCs also committed to front the awareness campaign on food safety and nutrition
during the different functions including funerals, parties and any other functions that
they officiate
The media and MCs fraternity jointly committed to team up and support CONSENT
through the project implementation process whenever called upon for any engagement
and support.
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.
Uganda has mostly a tropical climate characterized by stable rainfall patterns. However, the effects of climate change have turned the seasons around with the country experiencing shorter or longer rains and harsher droughts and increasingly becoming severe, affecting the lives of the country's citizens. Kasese District in Western Uganda where GEDA operates has been hit hard by several climatic change catastrophes. Repetitive Hydrological floods, mudslides, long periods of drought among others. The recent being the Kasika mudslide that saw about 16 lives lost and property worth millions of shillings lost. The major causes of these effects have been human causes such as cutting down of trees (deforestation), bad farming practices especially in hilly areas and along river banks among others. In trying to mitigate these climate change risks, CSOs in Kasese organised and held a climate change walk to raise community awareness in Kasese Municipality as one of the areas most affected. Key among the activities was planting trees in the Kasese industrial park and talks to different groups of people in the area. Speaking to the media during the walk, Yosia Baluku from GEDA thanked the organisers of the walk and committed GEDA's support towards mitigation of the climate change challenges in the region. he further informed the participants that GEDA uganda was also working on a project in partnership with Kasese Municipality financed by Expertise France and a 1 acre modal had been planted with trees in Nyakabingo II. He said that it was everyone's responsibility to restore our environment for a better future.
Uganda has mostly a tropical climate characterized by stable rainfall patterns. However, the effects of climate change have turned the seasons around with the country experiencing shorter or longer rains and harsher droughts and increasingly becoming severe, affecting the lives of the country’s citizens.
Kasese District in Western Uganda where GEDA operates has been hit hard by several climatic change catastrophes. Repetitive Hydrological floods, mudslides, long periods of drought among others. The recent being the Kasika mudslide that saw about 16 lives lost and property worth millions of shillings lost.
The major causes of these effects have been human causes such as cutting down of trees (deforestation), bad farming practices especially in hilly areas and along river banks among others.
In trying to mitigate these climate change risks, CSOs in Kasese organised and held a climate change walk to raise community awareness in Kasese Municipality as one of the areas most affected.
Key among the activities was planting trees in the Kasese industrial park and talks to different groups of people in the area.
Speaking to the media during the walk, Yosia Baluku from GEDA thanked the organisers of the walk and committed GEDA’s support towards mitigation of the climate change challenges in the region. he further informed the participants that GEDA uganda was also working on a project in partnership with Kasese Municipality financed by Expertise France and a 1 acre modal had been planted with trees in Nyakabingo II. He said that it was everyone’s responsibility to restore our environment for a better future.
Mr.Yosia GEDA speaking to the media.Planting of trees at the Kasese industrial park
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign observed every year to raise visibility around the call for the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence. The prevalence of violence against women and girls in all its forms in most countries is endemic. Two out of three women experience some form of violence in their lifetime. It is also true that Over 62% of young women have had their first sexual encounter by the age of 18 either forcefully or other unhealthy ways. These challenges have also led to high population growth driven by high rates of unwanted births, currently at 52% with teenage pregnancies accounting for 25% of over one million pregnancies recorded annually (UNFPA Report 2021). In committing to the cause of ending violence against women and girls in Uganda, GEDA Uganda supports its members in developing and implementing measures across the region to promote the elimination of violence against women and girls. GEDA Uganda is also committed to ending gender-based violence by creating a workplace that is respectful of the rights of all, with zero-tolerance of violence against women, girls and children. We're commemorating this years #16daysofactivitism by creating awareness on ending Gender-Based Violence and Violence against Children, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) amongst the Youth, the teenage mothers and other categories of the community. We have also continued to offer practical skills to these teenage mothers and other youth as we pass messages as mentioned above. It is our responsibility to ender violence against women and girls, boys and men for dignified and resilient lives for all.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign observed every year to raise visibility around the call for the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence. The prevalence of violence against women and girls in all its forms in most countries is endemic. Two out of three women experience some form of violence in their lifetime. It is also true that Over 62% of young women have had their first sexual encounter by the age of 18 either forcefully or other unhealthy ways. These challenges have also led to high population growth driven by high rates of unwanted births, currently at 52% with teenage pregnancies accounting for 25% of over one million pregnancies recorded annually (UNFPA Report 2021).
In committing to the cause of ending violence against women and girls in Uganda, GEDA Uganda supports its members in developing and implementing measures across the region to promote the elimination of violence against women and girls.
GEDA Uganda is also committed to ending gender-based violence by creating a workplace that is respectful of the rights of all, with zero-tolerance of violence against women, girls and children.
We’re commemorating this years #16daysofactivitism by creating awareness on ending Gender-Based Violence and Violence against Children, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) amongst the Youth, the teenage mothers and other categories of the community. We have also continued to offer practical skills to these teenage mothers and other youth as we pass messages as mentioned above.
It is our responsibility to ender violence against women and girls, boys and men for dignified and resilient lives for all.
Urban forest management action plan and strategy development, Land use and Land cover mapping is a project being implemented by Kasese Municipality with Financial support from Expertise France. It is a joint partnership between Kasese Municipality, 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. The project has a number of activities and among them has been equipping Municipality Technical staff especially those in charge of environment, planning and engineering with skills in QGIS (Quantum Geographic Information System). The five days training was conducted by KENRO consults a company that was hired to implement the project with technical support of GEDA Uganda that supervises the project implementation. A number of modules were covered including but not limited to General Introduction to GIS AND GEOSPATIAL DATA, Essential workflows, Spatial Analysis, Land use, land cover mapping, Map production among others. In his remarks while officiating at the opening of the 5 days training, the Town Clerk Kasese Municipality encouraged the participants to embrace the training and translate the skills into practice as they go about their official assignments. He added that he trusted the team that was undergoing the training and that he was confident of the results. Above: Training sessions Speaking at the closure of the training Ms.Medius Bihunirwa from GEDA Uganda applauded the team that had trained and the trainer Mr. Abubaker from KENRO. She encouraged the senior team from the Municipality not to stop at the training but continuously find time and practice as this was a practical subject that needed continuous practice. The participants agreed to form a whatsapp group that would act as a link between
Urban forest management action plan and strategy development, Land use and Land cover mapping is a project being implemented by Kasese Municipality with Financial support from Expertise France. It is a joint partnership between Kasese Municipality, 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.
The project has a number of activities and among them has been equipping Municipality Technical staff especially those in charge of environment, planning and engineering with skills in QGIS (Quantum Geographic Information System).
The five days training was conducted by KENRO consults a company that was hired to implement the project with technical support of GEDA Uganda that supervises the project implementation.
A number of modules were covered including but not limited to General Introduction to GIS AND GEOSPATIAL DATA, Essential workflows, Spatial Analysis, Land use, land cover mapping, Map production among others.
Participants pose for a photo with Town clerk (in red tie) after the official opening of the training.
In his remarks while officiating at the opening of the 5 days training, the Town Clerk Kasese Municipality encouraged the participants to embrace the training and translate the skills into practice as they go about their official assignments. He added that he trusted the team that was undergoing the training and that he was confident of the results.
Above: Training sessions
Speaking at the closure of the training Ms.Medius Bihunirwa from GEDA Uganda applauded the team that had trained and the trainer Mr. Abubaker from KENRO. She encouraged the senior team from the Municipality not to stop at the training but continuously find time and practice as this was a practical subject that needed continuous practice. The participants agreed to form a whatsapp group that would act as a link between them and the trainer. Further discussions will be held to complete the course as the 5 days were not enough to cover all the content.
At the end of the training all participants were able to create different maps using the skills acquired.
Some of the sample maps during and after the training.
In Uganda, it’s estimated that 29% of children aged 6-59 months are stunted, 4% wasted and
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.
