NEMA boss urges youths to embrace green jobs.
Kimera Abdul 
While addressing the media at the launch of the ‘Innovative youth engagement for effective waste management & controlling the spread of covid19 through public health promotion project in Kampala', the Executive Director of National Environment Management Authority Dr. Akankwatsa Barirenga applauded the 'YOUTH GO GREEN' team for conti advocating for environmental conservation, Akankwatsa pledged government support.
Edwin Muhumuza, Founder Youth Go Green.
According to Dr. Barirenga, about 1,500 tons of wastes are generated in Kampala on a daily but 60% of this is finding its way into the environment hence polluting lakes and rivers, causing rampant blockage of the drainage channels, being a threat to animals and also a major factor to soil degradation.
‘I salute the team for this program that will not only contribute to the saving of the environment but also generation of green jobs to young people through collection of waste’’ he added emphasizing that if the youth strategically organize themselves into waste collection they will soon have jobs since the organizers will have no way out other than paying them.
The CEO Youth go Green Edwin Muhumuza applauded the government of Germany through GIZ for funding this project that gives an opportunity to young people to be sensitized and become skilled on how best they can recycle plastic waste and other covid19 related PPE’s in cities of Kampala and Gulu and called upon Uganda government institutions like KCCA and Ministry of Health to join them in this project.
The GIZ country director Anna Pamberg said that the covid19 pandemic paused a challenging situation that demands efficient management of solid waste and so this project will enhance youth engagement and innovation in recycling and re-using of solid waste and to also promote behavioral change and commitment among the youth.
Boniface Okoth the youth Member of Parliament in Northern Uganda also applauded this project and said that it will surely raise awareness, train youth to maintain the practicing of covid19 SOP’s, build the capacity of youth in waste management as a business plus boosting the youth entrepreneurial skills in the post covid19 era and urged GIZ and other partners to add more resources to Youth Go Green to cover more ground in Kampala, Gulu and other districts.
Youth Go Green is a youth initiative with a vision of creating a world in which youth spearhead innovative solutions while focusing on youth skilling, disaster risk preparedness, innovation, climate change and mitigation biodiversity and many others in Uganda.
