BY YONAH MATSITSI
As climate change continues to tighten its grip on communities across Kasese District, a new grassroots approach is offering hope bringing people together not just to talk, but to act.
A unique community dialogue platform known as the Climate Café hub, introduced by Maru Foundation, is creating space for open discussions on climate challenges while also making a case for locally driven practical interventions that have potential to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change.
At a recent session held in Kyababinga-Kirembe cell of Central Division, participants drawn from Rural Focus Initiative-RUFI women environmental ambassadors, and several residents of the area, climate café hub was appreciated as an approach that will bolster sensitization efforts and enhance awareness on climate change related matters, which continue to pose a serious threat to the people of Kasese.
Mr Fred Marule, the team leader at Maru Foundation, urged the community to embrace tree planting as a nature conservation initiative which can contribute to the mitigation of negative effects of climate change.
Environmental concerns were further echoed by Sevin Bwambale, the Environment Conservation Officer at Caritas Kasese, who warned that rampant tree cutting is significantly accelerating climate change in the area before appealing to communities to embrace re-afforestation especially when they cut down any trees for whatever reasons.
The discussion also highlighted poor farming practices as a key driver of environmental degradation. Jovia Biira, a resident of Kyababinga, noted that many farmers have abandoned the use of terraces on hilly land.
Participants at the Climate Café agreed that while climate change is a global challenge, solutions must begin at the community level through simple, consistent actions like planting trees, conserving the environment, and adopting sustainable farming practices. ENDS.