By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/Umoja Standard.
Kyambogo, Uganda: On Sunday, National Council for Higher Education dubbed NCHE RUN 2023 under the theme; ‘Environmental Conservation in Higher Education Institutions’ that took place NCHE Headquarters in Kyambogo.
Over 50 Higher institutions of Learning turned up for the RUN that was part of 20 years celebrations of NCHE since its inception in 2023.
PS. Ketty Lamaro flags off the RUN.
In her speech, Uganda’s Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja referred the participants to Article 4 of Universities and other tertiary institutions Act, 2001 as amended, ‘The Council is mandated to regulate and guide the establishment and management of Higher Education institutions and equating of qualifications, the agency is therefore known in areas of regulating quality in Higher Education institutions and little about environmental conservation’.
“I want to thank the management for choosing this theme this theme in protecting the environment in Higher Education Institutions through e-waste management. It speaks to one of emergency pressing issues in not only our developing centers but also training institutions.” She said.
Her Speech was delivered by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education and Sports, Ms. Ketty Lamaro.
PS Ketty Lamaro plants a mango tree at NCHE Headquarters.
Dr. Mary Okwakol, the Executive Director of of NCHE said that they chose this year’s theme after realizing that Higher education institutions generate a lot of e-waste and there are challenges that are associated with that.
“We thiught that this is a way of raising awareness and also ask Higher Education Institutions to formulate policies and guidelines to mamage e-waste that are generated by them.” He said.
NCHE ED Prof. Mary Okwakol speaks before the RUN at Headquarters in Kyambogo.
“But we are also taking this advantage to draw their attention to the degradation of the environment generally which is due to rampant cutting of trees and for that matter, each one of us will go away with a seedling and we request you to plant that seedling and nurture it.” She added.
Kwetuma Perez, an employee of Makerere University and participant at the RUN lauded NCHE initiative arguing that it is one of the ways of answering the climate change question in Uganda.
He said, ‘as a university, we put much emphasis in ensuring environmental conservation through our courses taught to the students, therefore, having this kind of initiative is a complement to our efforts’.
“This RUN comes at an opportune time when the University is organizing MAK RUN 2023 in October that is aimed constructing a students’ center facility to boost academics.” Perez.
He stated that safe environment is a complement to students’ education as its blocks destruction to their studies like diseases as.
He argued that this should not stop here rather be an annual practice for Universities and general public to appreciate the essence of environmental protection.
Vice Chancellors of Higher Education Institutions, technical staff, students, political wing and well-wishers that totaled to over 500 participated in the run that covered 5 and half kilometers.