Nansana Municipality is taking significant steps to tackle methane emissions from waste, an urgent environmental issue exacerbated by rising heat waves in the area.
Mayor Regina Nakkazzi Bakitte announced a proactive approach to this challenge during the launch of the second round of the Youth Climate Fund, which has an allocation of 100,000 USD (approximately 366 million shillings).
This initiative is funded by America Philanthropic Organisation, Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide support to 38 youth groups across the municipality’s four divisions.
Each group will receive 100 USD to facilitate awareness campaigns and implement various environmental conservation projects focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing carbon capture, and promoting sustainable waste management.
Bakitte emphasized the critical role of community engagement, indicating that each group will be responsible for waste sorting at its source.
This initiative aims to instill a sense of pride and accountability in residents while fostering environmental stewardship.
The groups are also expected to collaborate with local industries interested in purchasing sorted plastics, transforming waste into valuable resources through value addition.
The Mayor expressed optimism that by the end of the ten-month project, there would be a measurable decrease in waste emissions along with a strengthened culture of sustainability among the residents of Nansana.
Elysmus Paul Makande, the Youth Climate Fund Project Coordinator, reflected on challenges encountered during the first round of the project, such as language barriers among illiterate youth, the emergence of fake groups, and an overemphasis on tree planting.
Despite these challenges, the first phase achieved significant outcomes, including tree planting, addressing local environmental issues, developing environmental sensitization applications, and establishing waste management systems.
Looking ahead, Makande committed to expanding the tree planting efforts, advancing waste recycling initiatives, creating energy-saving stoves, developing brick-making projects, and producing documentaries, all aimed at fostering greater environmental awareness and action in the community.
This initiative marks a pivotal step towards addressing climate change impacts in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso district and promoting a sustainable future for its residents.
By Ben Musanje
23rd April 2025
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