The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the North Ankole Diocese to enhance efforts in public awareness and education in environment management.
The MoU which was signed by NEMA’s Executive Director, Dr. Tom Okurut and the Bishop for the North Ankole Diocese, The Rt. Rev. Stephen Namanya was witnessed by the Minister of State for Environment, Hon. Dr. Mary Gorrety Kitutu.
In the address to leaders from the Ankole region, Dr. Okurut, said that the Church’s structures are an avenue for massive awareness creation and will act as behavioural change communications model for the parishioners.
On the part of the church, The Rt. Rev. Stephen Namanya, remarked that it is our collective responsibility to manage the environment and the Diocese will take up the mandate stipulated in the MoU.
The MoU is meant to enhance efforts in public awareness and education in environment management.
The Minister of State for Environment, Hon. Dr. Kitutu, who was the witness to signing the MoU, encouraged both parties to commit to the success in areas of agreement such that this could be scaled to other groups of society.
She also called upon NEMA to scale up such programs through religious institutions since they have an influential relationship with the population.
In the MoU, NEMA will support the establishment of a woodlot, a greenbelt, and a water harvesting system as models and also environmental awareness messages will be shared by the priests in the diocese.