Learners urged to engage 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 third term holidays on 5 December 2025, a period expected to be one of the longest school holidays of the year. Environmental and climate change activists are using this opportunity to encourage parents and caretakers to involve children in activities aimed at preserving the environment.

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

Dina Pretty Kefeeza, a promoted Primary Six learner from a primary school in Mityana District, says she is ready to take part in tree planting during the Christmas holidays. Speaking with enthusiasm, 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 controlling weather patterns. “Our teacher told us that we are getting 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 noted that she already has tree seedlings that she intends to plant in Fort Portal, Western Uganda. She said she enjoys planting trees both at school and at home because trees provide fresh air necessary for human survival.

Meanwhile, Julius Muyanja, a professional mechanic and parent from Bamuyanja J Auto Garage in Mulago, Kampala, emphasized 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 from 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 said.

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

According to the university, each graduation year, the best-performing male and female students are honored through the planting of a commemorative tree in the square. The trees, tagged with the students’ names, courses, faculties, and campuses, are expected to be preserved for over 500 years.

Environmentalists say that if 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 reach higher institutions and beyond.