CDF Gen. Muhoozi joins climate change campaigns

KAMPALA - Uganda's efforts to address climate change and other environmental challenges have become crucial for its sustainable development and the well-being of its citizens, said Cedric Ndilima Babu, the Vice Chairman Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) in Kampala.

On Friday, he announced that the Patriots Club of Uganda in partnership with the Patriotic League of Uganda, a civic organization have  organised a 10-kilometre Birthday run for the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba with the theme, “Run for Greening Uganda: An MK climate change mitigation plan.”

Gen. Muhoozi is expected to flag off the run scheduled for Sunday, April 13, 2025, starting at Kololo Independence Grounds Kampala.

“The run is a campaign built to inspire change and mobilise action among individuals and the citizens of Uganda around climate change and environmental conservation, he added.

As you are aware, we are experiencing floods, hot climatic conditions, delayed rains and prolonged droughts in different parts of the country due to climate change. As Ugandans, we cannot look on. We should do something to protect our environment, and we are glad Gen. MK is leading the way on this,” Ndilima insisted.

Keep politics out of climate change

The Vice Chairman PLU Central Region, Frank Gashumba revealed that the run shall mark the beginning of the unveiling of Gen. MK’s policy position on many issues of public interest irrespective of different political affiliations.

“We shall not be holding parties and dancing anymore but demonstrating to the country and citizens that the task of building our society and country is in our hands,” he stated.
“Let us keep politics out of climate change, be it the National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters, National Unity Platform (NUP) party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) or the Democratic Party (DP) or any other,” he observed.

“As Gen. Muhoozi navigates his future plans, his involvement in environmental initiatives could have a positive impact on Uganda's efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change,” Gashumba noted.

Cedric Ndilima Babu, the Vice Chairman, Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) in Kampala called the public to embrace climate change mitigation plans with a run. (Credit: Isaac Nuwagaba)

Route chart
According to the organising committee chairperson Bob Kakuru, the run starts at exactly 7am upto 12pm starting from Kololo Airstrip to Acacia Road, Fairway Hotel (Yusuf Lule Road), Mulago Round About, Kamwokya, Kira Road, Lugogo Bypass, Jinja Road, Hotel Africana back to Kololo Independence Grounds.

“Gen. MK will plant a tree. Our supporters should plant at least 10 trees where they shall be in their villages,” Kakuru maintained.

Support for the drive

The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) physical planner, Albert Agaba said that climate change has affected the country and needs to be addressed before extra damages happen.

Over the years, increased incidences of floods, persistent droughts, especially in the cattle corridor, landslides and depleting wetland cover have greatly affected Uganda’s climate and its capacity to sustain agriculture, the backbone of the country’s economy.

“The current global climate change crisis, characterized by devastating floods, droughts, extreme temperatures, and other environmentally driven catastrophes, underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive response,” Agaba said.

Whereas Uganda boosted 15.6% of wetland cover in 1994 to date, we have only been left 9.2% as intact wetlands with the main threats to wetlands being unsustainable urban development, agriculture, over-harvesting, pollution and over-exploitation of wetland resources, Agaba lamented.