Women walk for climate action, highlight pollution and encroachment in Entebbe

 By Roy Nakyobe

Women involved in climate action on Friday, July 12, held a 10-kilometre walk through Entebbe City to raise awareness on grassroots climate resilience and advocate for gender-responsive environmental solutions.

which started from Gukiina (formerly Ssese Beach) and passed through Anderita beachfront, Botanical Gardens, Entebbe Golf Course, Kitubulu Central Forest Reserve, and ended at Lake Victoria School, exposed several environmental issues along the route.

Participants noted poor drainage along Kitubulu Road, widespread littering of plastic bottles and polythene bags in trenches, and illegal dumping of solid waste in Kitubulu Forest. In several locations, locals were seen washing clothes directly on the lakeshore and releasing soapy water back into Lake Victoria.

Organisers also raised concerns over ongoing encroachment in Kitubulu Central Forest Reserve, where parts of the protected area appear to have been subdivided for private activities, including construction.

Fishmongers at landing sites were also reported to be dumping fish intestines into the lake, contributing to water pollution. In addition, the Entebbe Isolation Centre was cited for allegedly releasing waste into Lake Victoria, posing a threat to aquatic life and public health.

Speaking during the walk, some participants urged government agencies to enforce environmental protection laws and increase community sensitisation.

In response, an official from the National Forestry Authority (NFA), who was present at Kitubulu, confirmed that some activities in the forest were part of licensed ecotourism projects approved through Environmental and Social Impact Assessments.

“NFA doesn’t allocate plots in forest reserves. All licenses are issued in line with the forest management plan. What is happening here was approved. However, there is also illegal occupation, especially on the eastern side, which needs urgent attention,” the official said.

The walk comes ahead of the Women in Climate Change Conference slated for July 24, 2025, organised by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), GIZ, the National Renewable Energy Platform (NREP), and the Ministry of Water and Environment