East African Gazette
Kampala
With 1.4 billion people around the globe, 17% of the global population are responsible for less than 3% of the world’s total greenhouse-gas emissions. Moreover, data suggest that the forests of the Congo River Basin alone absorb 3% of global carbon-dioxide emissions every year.
Within Africa, more than 60 percent of the continent’s carbon emissions are produced by just three countries: South Africa, contributing 435.9 million tonnes, Egypt, with 249.6 million tonnes, and Algeria, responsible for 176.2 million tonnes.
In the move to fight against climate change, Kenya Government though high Commission Kenya to Uganda has acquired over 100 acres of land to restore Ugandan forest commonly known as Mabira Forest
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Mabira forest is 300 square kilometers (30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) in Uganda, located in Buikwe District, between Lugazi and Jinja
The famous Ugandan forest is facing a threat from charcoal burners, lumberjacks, and extensive sugarcane growers.
Mabira Forest has a natural habitat of 312 species of trees, 315 species of birds, 218 butterfly species, 97 moth species, and 23 small mammal species.
The Move was revealed by Kenyan envoy to Uganda, Rtd. Major General George Owino during 10th Graduation Ceremony of International University of East Africa in efforts to fight against Climate Change at Kansanga Makindye Kampala on Thursday November 30,2023.
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Over 5000 students from 54 nationalities graduated with different degrees and diplomas in their respective courses.
The 2017 government report indicated that thousands of hectares of Mabira forest have been degraded or understocked after the Ministry of Water and Environment carried out a survey. According to the report, at least 4,755 hectares translating to 9% of Mabira forest were mapped as degraded.
Globally, 35% of forests have been lost in the past 300 years. Of those that have survived, 82% have been compromised by human activity.
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Owino, the Kenya’s envoy to Uganda
According to Owino, Kenya’s envoy to Uganda said as Kenyan high commission, we have taken up a program or project to restock Mabira Forest.
“We are working with Busoga College, and they have agreed to give us 100 acres of land to grow trees. So, we are patterning with anybody who wants; please let’s work together,” he noted.
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He said on December 8th, this year the program will kick off as one of the means to restore the lost glory of the forest.
The top envoy said if Mabira forest is destroyed all east Africans would feel the impact and this means everyone has to feel the concern of restocking trees where it’s cut.
The ambassador challenged universities to provide quality education to young people who are still anxious about making their lives better. He said that energetic and enthusiastic graduates can do anything positive once they are well nurtured from the start, and this has to be the work of academic institutions.
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Ambassador Owino also asked graduates to focus on how they can exploit the benefits of the education they have received.
“What have you received, and how are you going to utilize that knowledge?” he asked.
He noted that the world is full of problems such as food insecurity, health issues, and poor infrastructure, and that if students put together their brilliant ideas, they could come up with long-term solutions. Through this, the ever-growing population will be managed so as not to disrupt nature by encroaching on the natural forests.
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He stressed that globally, the educated population is smaller than the one that is not educated, yet the problems are also bigger. Accordingly, this calls for collective efforts to find better solutions.
Research has concluded that most university graduates learn from their jobs, meaning that at their respective universities, they are not taught practically.
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“You have now graduated; this is just the beginning. You are going to learn from the job. It means you are going to study afresh to solve real problems. You have been given the basics, and I’m sure you can focus and help the local people,” he advised.
The 10th graduation of IUEA, was celebrated under the theme ‘’Beyond Boarders” aimed at sensitizing African Countries knowledge knows no barriers
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Amb. Dr. Amina Mohamed,
Graduation celebrated under the theme “go beyond borders,” Amb. Dr. Amina Mohamed, the chancellor of the university, said students or graduates are capable of fostering a better understanding in communities and creating solutions to the prevailing problems if they remain valid, visible, and vocal in their decisions.
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Dr. Mohamed stated that knowledge knows no barriers or boundaries if properly applied to a given subject. Respectively, knowledge shapes people and challenges them to become more creative. This mostly leads to the economic growth of a nation. She implored graduates not to rest in this challenging world.
“To all graduates, you stand on the precipice of a future filled with possibilities. Armed with the knowledge you have acquired, the experiences you have had, and the guidance of your esteemed faculty, you are prepared to venture into the world that eagerly awaits your contributions,” she said.
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She admitted that today’s world is more interconnected and interdependent than ever before, which requires individuals, especially graduates, equipped with knowledge but also with the ability to adapt and innovate.
She advised graduates to remain curious, keep learning, and remain open to new ideas and experiences.
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Prof. Emeka Akaezuwa,
Prof. Emeka Akaezuwa, the university’s vice-chancellor, said the issue of unemployment is real, and students alone cannot do much unless they are helped.
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IUEA being a technological university of choice, Prof. Akaezuwa advised students to take advantage of their technological expertise so that they could be propelled toward success.
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Emeka said IUEA has continued to build strength as it recently officially partnered with Toro Kingdom to launch a groundbreaking initiative called transformative agricultural technology that aims to revolutionize farming practices in the region.
Akaezuwa said the technology is very significant for the people since it enables small-holder farmers, buyers, technologists to come on one platform and do business for the prosperity of the kingdom.
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