PATIENCE KIRABO MAKERERE UNIVERSITY STUDENT WINS MISS CLIMATE CHANGE AWARENESS PAGPAGEANT
He also revealed future plans of being more inclusive, with a shift from focusing on empowering young women only to incorporating male counterparts.
Felix Oketcho
By Our Reporter
Patience Joyce Kirabo Makerere University Student has won.this years edition of Miss Climate Change Awareness Uganda Pageant beating 15 others in the grand finale in Kampala.
Held under the theme:Water and Environment for an inclusive and prosperous Uganda as part of the week-long activities to commemorate the 9th edition of the Uganda Water and Environment week running from March 23rd to 27th.
In his remarks Permanent Secretary Ministry of Water and Environment Dr Alfred Okot Okidi acknowledged the participation of young people in climate change awareness efforts.
"There are no better people to advocate for climate action than the young people.The issues of climate change cannot be addressed by the government alone. It is a responsibility for all of us. Whatever activities you do benefit the whole of Uganda,” he stated.
Dr Okidi expressed commitment to supporting young people in their initiatives that align with the government’s environment and climate change awareness work.
“We are ready to mentor and sponsor a few youth in our programmes. We have the water and environment steering committees; we make sure 30 percent representation is the youth,"Okidi stressed.
Bismack.Amumpaire Executive Director of Africa Tourism and Environment Initiatives (ATEI), and organiser of Miss Climate Change Awareness Uganda Pageant colled for more partnership with the Ministry of Water and Environment to foll out Climate change related debates and community sensitisation.
Amumpaire, termed the initiative as a growing movement shaping a new generation of climate leaders.
He also revealed future plans of being more inclusive, with a shift from focusing on empowering young women only to incorporating male counterparts.
"Miss Climate Change Awareness Uganda is an initiative to nurture climate ambassadors to champion climate action initiatives like tree planting, water conservation, environmental education, and climate resilience,"he stated.
Miss Climate Change Awareness Uganda winner Kirabo pledged to roll out an innovative campaign of restoring depleted wetlands in areas with serious human encroachments in her jurisdiction.
“We shall work hand in hand with community leaders to carry out community dialogues so that we can find strategies we can use to conserve biodiversity and the environment,” she said.
Martha Akori who.emerged 1st runner’s up, and.Winnie Mirembe second runner up pledged to use their platforms
to extend their projects to cover the whole regionn so as to economically the community with enterprises .
About climate in Uganda
Climate change in Uganda is driving severe weather, including frequent floods, landslides, and prolonged droughts, severely impacting agriculture and food security.
Uganda requires approximately USD 28.1 billion (over 100 trillion UGX) between 2022 and 2030 to implement its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to address climate change. This funding covers both adaptation and mitigation efforts, with only 15% (USD 4.1 billion) expected from domestic resources.
