CSOs hold Solidarity March for Climate Justice
Action International Uganda climaxed the climate justice week with a solidarity march and a climate justice symposium from 16 to 17 May 2024.
The solidarity march started at City Square, the heart of Kampala city, and ended at Makerere University. The march was attended by staff from AAIU and partners, climate activists, a band, and police escorts.
The solidarity march was a powerful display of unity and determination. Participants, undeterred by the rain, held high their placards with 37 different messages advocating for climate justice. Their resilience and commitment to urgent action to address the climate crisis were palpable as they danced and chanted slogans.
The march concluded with a press briefing at the Makerere School of Public Health by representatives of various communities and CSOs.
Denis Pato, the Country Director of Vijana Corps, said, "My community suffers from floods and drought in the same year. All this comes from human activity, such as cutting down trees. These practices are contributing to the degradation of the environment."
Mercy Munduru, the Head of Programs and Fundraising at ActionAid International Uganda, noted that climate change is a human rights issue with severe consequences.
"Pregnant women with the extreme heat are losing babies. We just experienced heat waves, and you can see the impact of heat waves on people who are already vulnerable. We do not want to lose another life to the devastating effects of climate change."
Meanwhile, Xavier Ejoyi, the Country Director of ActionAid International, called for action in funding solutions to climate change. He said,
"We need action now! It's time to shift away from destructive activities such as the production and financing of industrial agriculture and fossil fuels. The urgency of the climate crisis demands that we support real solutions, backed by research, that can improve the lives of those affected. Funding agroecology and renewable energy is not just a solution; it's the only way forward."
The march was part of the actions to mark the climate justice week of action and a perfect way to begin the two-day climate justice symposium. The climate justice week was held in partnership with MEMPROW, VIJANA CORPS, PELUM Uganda and COTA and CAN-U.
