Hoima Blind Women Association (HOBWA) is preparing its members who are Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) from Greater Hoima to participate in efforts to mitigate climate change and its effects.
During their engagement held at Glory Summit Hotel in Hoima city, Mr Nicholas Agaba, the Project Coordinator, said that the project aims to see 5,000 trees planted by PWDs at their homes and on their land away from home.
He added that they are also promoting proper disposal of plastic waste and planting eco-friendly and indigenous tree species like mahogany, Mvule (musiimbi) and cedar alongside sensitisation campaigns under a project supported by the Global GreenGrants Fund (GGF).
“This project follows apparent degradation of natural forests and wetlands in favour of human activities like agriculture which have contributed to climate change and its effects. The sure way of mitigating it is planting trees and having everybody involved,” he said.
PWDs are the most affected because if accessibility to firewood is hard, they find more trouble compared to the ones without disability.
In this case, HOBWA is uniting and advocating for women’s action to environmental conservation and promoting human rights to fight against the environment.
HOBWA has so far planted 2,000 tree seedlings in this season and they are continuing to distribute more as they watch the weather.
Ms Precious Natulinda, the meeting facilitator, cautioned HOBWA members against deforestation and bush burning that lead to harsh climate changes.
She told the participants how serious climate changes are a result of human activities for industrialisation, urbanisation and charcoal burning that consequently culminate to famine due to prolonged drought.
Ms Natulinda advised the members to select eco-friendly tree seedling species like musizi, mvule (musiimbi) and mahogany – the indigenous trees known for their advantage to mitigating climate change in both rain formation and soil conservation for crop production and high yields.
This is contrary to exotic trees like eucalyptus that she said cannot allow intercropping compared to native trees.
Mr Anna Mary Tumusiime, a member of HOBWA, called for tireless continuous community sensitisation about climate change.
Ms Beatrice Aheebwa, the councillor for PWDs in Kapaapi sub-county, Hoima district, encouraged PWDs to always work hard in spite of their bodily disabilities.
Mr Joseph Mukama, the PWDs chairperson in Kikuube district council, urged the community to create a conducive environment for PWDs to live in.
“It is very unfortunate that sometimes you find some people laughing and playing about the vulnerability of PWDs and this makes it hard for some of us to cope with the prevailing environment.” He stated.
Ms Joy Rufunda, the HOBWA Executive Director, advised that amidst climate change being experienced, people should not only plant trees but also food crops like cassava, maize and beans among others for their home consumption to avoid food insecurity.
She stressed the members’ positive mindset in mitigating climate change and its effects for a desirable environment to live in.
