Kampala Archdiocese’s Archbishop Paul Ssemwogerere has taken a bold stride towards connecting faith and environmental consciousness, setting into motion a monumental nationwide initiative dubbed ‘Go Green Sunday’. This campaign, guided by the motto ‘Faith in Action’, looks to inspire the nation’s youngest generations to uphold stewardship for the environment by planting fruit trees in churchyards across the archdiocese.
The archbishop’s residence in Rubaga served as the symbolic focal point for the launching of this groundbreaking campaign on Tuesday. Amid the quiet buzz of the day, Archbishop Ssemwogerere himself planted three trees, underscoring the transformative power of individual actions in nurturing and safeguarding our shared environment.
With a tone of wisdom and a plea for collective responsibility, Archbishop Ssemwogerere urged parents to actively engage their children in the quest to protect and rejuvenate the environment. His message, deeply infused with the ethos of Pope Francis’ rallying cry for environmental stewardship through the “Laudato Si”, emphasized the need to harmonize spiritual growth with ecological preservation.
Set to officially take root on August 20th, the campaign is being brought to life in partnership with Little Hands Go Green, a civil society organization committed to instilling the ethos of environmental conservation among Uganda’s children in schools, homes, and communities.
The campaign’s core ethos lies in a resolute mission to rally Catholic children across Uganda, encouraging them to plant fruit trees at their respective churches following Sunday mass. Joseph Masembe, the driving force behind Uganda’s Little Hands Go Green, outlined the campaign’s strategy with a sense of far-reaching ambition. “We commence our journey at the Kampala Archdiocese,” he stated, “with the vision of expanding this green wave to cover dioceses across the nation.”
Elaborating on the strategic framework, Masembe added, “Our ultimate aim is to witness each churchyard across the nation adorned with a newly planted fruit tree, an emblem of our commitment to the environment, before or after every mass.”
The dynamic endeavor by Uganda’s Little Hands Go Green seeks to leave an enduring impact beyond the act of tree planting. As part of their Green Festival slated for September 3rd at Kololo Airstrip, the organization is poised to gift fruit trees to all participating children, in a move that promises to further cement the relationship between the nation’s young generations and their natural environment.
Author Credit: This article was originally published by Notifier Media on August 8, 2023
