FILE – Dirt is cleared and dumped, destroying a wetland in Entebbe, Uganda, July 8, 2013. VOA
Noah Osbert, a student of Kyambogo University, said world leaders need to listen to young people on issues that affect their future.
"It is incumbent upon them and upon us to show that we have that spirit of compassion to plant trees, to conserve nature for the future generation," Osbert said. "For example, we are looking up to having industrialization, how are we counter measuring for industrialization? Because it comes along with the negative side of it."
Research from Makerere University School of Public Health in May 2019 indicated 31,600 people die in Uganda from air pollution-related illnesses linked to dust and industrialization.
In addition, the researchers say Kampala's annual mean pollution levels are five times above the level recommended by the World Health Organization.
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"I am going to get lung complications, just because the atmosphere is not safe," said Akello Harriet Hope, program manager for Climate Action Network Uganda. "Am going to go to the water sources, I consume water that is already contaminated. Because waste management is zero. We are getting health issues related to emissions from the preconditioned cars. So, we need justice now."
Exporting coal
In February 2018, Kenya imposed a logging ban. In November, the government extended the logging ban for a year, to enforce reforms aimed at restoring forest cover. However, Uganda immediately became a source of charcoal in Kenya, leading to more logging in the country.
Working with the government, activist group Youth Go Green says it intends to plant 10 million trees in the next five years.
