Learners urged to take part in environmental conservation during long holiday

13 December 2025, 7:58 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

Learners across various parts of the country officially broke off for the third-term holidays on 5 December 2025, a period expected to be among the longest school breaks of the year. Environmental and climate change activists are using this opportunity to encourage parents and caretakers to involve children in activities aimed at environmental conservation.

The appeal comes at a time when Uganda, like many countries in the region, is facing serious climate change challenges. Environmental experts attribute the situation to widespread tree cutting, encroachment on wetlands, and the dumping of plastic waste into drainage channels.

Dina Pretty Kefeeza, a Primary Six promotee from a primary school in Mityana District, says she is eager to take part in tree-planting activities during the Christmas holidays. Speaking enthusiastically, the 10-year-old said she plans to plant trees when she travels to the village with her parents.

“My name is Dina Pretty Kefeeza. I am 10 years old, and I have been promoted to Primary Six in 2026. When I go to the village for Christmas, I am going to plant trees,” she said.

She explained that her teachers have helped her understand the importance of trees in regulating weather patterns. “Our teacher told us that we are experiencing too much sunshine because many trees that used to bring rain were cut down for timber and other reasons. I encourage my fellow pupils to find time and plant trees during this holiday,” she added.

Pretty also noted that she already has tree seedlings that she plans to plant in Fort Portal, Western Uganda. She said she enjoys planting trees both at school and at home, noting that trees provide fresh air essential for human survival.

Meanwhile, Julius Muyanja, a professional mechanic and parent at Bamuyanja J Auto Garage in Mulago, Kampala, emphasised the role of parents and caretakers in guiding children on environmental protection. Muyanja, who is passionate about tree planting and drainage cleaning, said such initiatives should have started much earlier.

“We needed this yesterday. Very few learners understand the importance of planting trees and keeping drainage channels free of plastic bottles,” he said.

Muyanja added that parents and children are major contributors to plastic pollution and should therefore be part of the solution. “If we join hands as parents and caretakers, we can make a big impact in our communities. It is very rare to find a place without plastic bottles in drainage channels, yet it is us and our children who use these bottles. We must engage this energetic population in climate change mitigation if we are to overcome the current challenges,” he added.

The importance of environmental conservation is also being emphasised at institutions of higher learning. Recently, during its 16th graduation ceremony, Busitema University designated a green space known as the “Square of Excellence”. The initiative, led by the university convocation, aims to address the impacts of climate change through the planting of memorial trees.

According to the university, each graduating class honours the best-performing male and female students by planting a commemorative tree in the square. The trees, tagged with the students’ names, courses, faculties and campuses, are expected to be preserved for more than 500 years.

Environmentalists say that when children are given opportunities to engage in conservation activities at an early age, they are more likely to become strong advocates for climate change mitigation when they progress to higher institutions of learning and beyond.