By Salmah Namwanje
Last month NBS Television, Vivo Energy Uganda and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) launched a campaign dubbed Tuve ku Kaveera which is aimed at eliminating single use polythene bags commonly known as Kaveera from communities.
The campaign has since attracted Makerere university students from the College of Agricultural and environmental sciences under their Agri-Business Students Association. The group has vowed to spread the message, in a rallying call against environmental degradation.
For these, the desire to sensitise Ugandans on the dangers of polythene bags or kaveera has been ever present.
But after watching and following the Tuve ku kaveera campaign run by NBS Television, Vivo Energy Uganda and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the group decided to join and promote same message.
Tamale Paul, a student of Bachelor of Science in agricultural Land use and management breaks down how Kaveera affects soil property. Since Kaveera is non- biodegradable it destroys the soil structure which affects aeration – leading to rise in temperatures below the surface.
He adds that when Kaveera is dumped in gardens it prevents roots from growing to access deeper layers of the soil to get nutrients.
The students’ campaign started this week with sensitisation activation in Nakasero market, where they distributed biodegradable reusable bags to traders as alternatives to kaveera. They also sensitised the traders about the dangers posed by polythene bags.
Traders were urged to embrace alternative shopping bags that are eco - friendly.
Students working with different stakeholders hope to spread the gospel to the local person who uses Kaveera for daily shopping.
Now that the Tuve Ku Kaveera campaign is attracting more people to join the struggle the partners NBS Television, Vivo Energy Uganda and NEMA are optimistic that the message is yielding results.
