Twenty students and their patrons from four secondary schools which participated in the Wildlife conservation awareness essay competition recently have won a fully paid trip to the famous Murchison Falls National Park slated for 9th-11th August 2011.
The offer was made by the acting Executive Director, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Dr. Andrew Ggunga Seguya while presiding over the trophy and certificate awarding ceremony at the Uganda Museum last week .The theme of the essay competition was Wildlife and Climate change.
The overall best school in the essay competition was Kitante Hill School which scooped the coveted trophy closely followed by Gayaza High School from Wakiso district. Other schools included Makerere Modern and MK Crown High school.
Ms Pamela Habaasa of Kitante Hill School emerged the best overall student while Ms Lindslay Mucureezi from Gayaza High School came second. Other star performers include Susan Namyalo from Makerere Modersn school, Nantale Sanyu Sarah of Gayaza HS, Namugenyi Maureen from Kitante ,Nabugele Phoebe from Gayaza HS and Onyuth Howard from Kitante.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, the UWA boss Dr. Seguya hailed the initiative by the Community Conservation Unit of UWA to reach out to the young generation .Dr. Seguya said Wildlife plays a vital role in climate and environment education. He added that our greatest tourism products are premised on wildlife from which revenue is generated to support social services for the population.
He said such activities like essay competition contribute to the knowledge base which should be used to create awareness among the communities to change their behaviour towards environment protection.
Dr. Seguya urged school administrations and student bodies to form wildlife clubs,plant trees and propagate the message of natural resources conservation for future generations.”Read widely about conservation, visit our national parks, hold regular debates on conservation ad live responsibly, ”Dr. Seguya implored the students and their patrons.
The Director Conservation at UWA, Mr. John Makombo, urged the students to the ambassadors of conservation wile the Community conservation Coordinator Mr. Asa Kule Musinguzi promised that more essay competitions will in future be organized to involve more schools since UWA had recruited a conservation education officer identified as Joan Nisinsiima.