The Master Green Eco-Contest 2024 was held at PMM Girls’ School, Jinja City. This event brought together both primary and secondary schools to showcase their innovative solutions for conserving a green, carbon-free environment.
This initiative, aligned with the new academic curriculum, targets school-going children, recognizing that what they learn at a young age is likely to stay with them. By nurturing eco-friendly habits early, they are prepared to become the environmental stewards of tomorrow.
The program aims to teach students a variety of environmentally friendly practices they can replicate at home and beyond. It also promotes sanitation in schools, for example, by encouraging the planting of grass in school compounds to replace dusty areas. This has had a significant impact in the Busoga Sub-Region, where it has helped mitigate the problem of jiggers, which thrive in hot, dusty environments. Additionally, edible fruit trees planted in schools not only provide shade and protect against strong winds but also offer students nutritious food, helping them maintain a balanced diet, according to Mr. Ernest Nabihamba, Jinja City’s Natural Resource Officer.
The initiative is also transforming students’ perspectives on energy sources. They are learning to adopt alternative carbon-free energy sources like biogas, solar energy, and briquettes made from charcoal dust, rather than relying on firewood, which has contributed to deforestation and increased greenhouse gas emissions, Mr. Nabihamba added.
He also reminded Jinja City residents that maintaining the cleanliness of the city is everyone’s responsibility, not just the government’s. Business owners should ensure they have dustbins for their customers, and travelers should make an effort to find proper waste disposal areas rather than littering the streets.
Furthermore, the Ugandan government is promoting carbon-free modes of transportation such as cycling and walking, inspired by countries like the Netherlands and Belgium. This effort includes creating more pavements and cycling lanes along roads. Companies like Bike Ventures Jinja and Coop Africa have already provided over 200 bicycles to local communities and schools like Jinja Senior Secondary School.
The fight to restore the environment has also been extended to construction projects in Jinja City. Before approving building plans, the city requires developers to include eco-friendly features such as adequate green spaces for grass, flowers, and trees. Other recommendations include using transparent iron sheets to reduce the need for artificial lighting and integrating solar energy systems.
Schools like Jinja College have made significant strides in this area, investing in eco-friendly toilets that generate energy for cooking, reducing firewood consumption. This project is being adopted by other schools and households in Jinja City.
Mr. Nabihamba also urged the youth to engage in eco-friendly projects during their holidays rather than staying idle at home. He encouraged them to repurpose old car tires into sandals and use plastic waste to make items like bags, door mats, and caps—skills that can help them earn a living.
Opiro Emaru Joshua, Director of Oshataka Waste Initiative and one of the judges of the Master Green Eco-Contest 2024, praised the schools for their innovative projects. He specifically applauded Jinja College for their efforts and urged schools not to limit their ideas to the classroom but to pursue opportunities to market their products and ideas as part of the broader fight to restore the environment.
He also called on schools that haven’t yet joined the initiative to get involved, as this not only exposes them to new ideas but also raises awareness of the importance of a carbon-free environment for future generations. Proper waste management—such as recycling plastics and turning waste into useful products—was another area he highlighted as a critical lesson for students.
In conclusion, Mr. Emaru appealed to the Ugandan government and potential sponsors to support youth with innovative, sustainable eco-friendly projects, as many students may lack the financial resources to bring their ideas to life.
Atim Mercy, a senior four student from PMM Girls’ School, shared her experience of working on a unique project to create plastic pavers, which are more durable than the typical bags, chairs, and sandals often made from solid waste. However, she noted that this initiative requires significant capital, as it involves a high demand for plastics and equipment like molds—resources students currently lack.
She encouraged her fellow students to join the fight for environmental conservation by engaging in waste management projects such as making manure from decomposable waste and producing plastic pavers, bags, and sandals—skills that could provide them with income after school.
