By Insight Post Uganda
In recent years, there has been growing concern about the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on our planet.
In Uganda, a group of performers are taking an active role in spreading awareness and educating the public about the importance of protecting the environment through Music Dance and Drama (MDD)
This is one of the innovative approaches the performers are taking to simplify messages about environmental conservation. It has become a popular strategy for raising awareness, encouraging participation, and stimulating action on crucial environmental issues.
The campaign dubbed ‘Environmental Protection Through Revitalized Drama’ comes in the wake of the terrible rains that had dire effects in four districts of Greater Mukono including Mukono, Buikwe, Buvuma and Kayunga.
The campaign aims at restoring and protecting the environment, especially in areas with depleted ecosystems and forest reserves. According to the performers, people are easily motivated to take action through dramatized messages.
As a strategy for the one-year environmental conservation campaign, more than ten groups have so far committed to performing on stages while conveying the relevant information.
It would highlight the role of arts and culture in raising awareness and inspiring action, as well as the importance of community engagement in addressing their own environmental concerns.
“The entertainment industry has, for many years, neglected other genres like tragic drama, which is more educational, in favour of comedic drama,” says Fred Katumba, the Director of FK Promotions – Mukono.
Since several districts are grappling with challenges of floods, water pollution, wetland encroachment and deforestation, Katumba and other group members had to design various skits integrating drama and environmental education to engage their audiences on the possible causes of such climate change effects.
According to Resty Nanyonjo, the Chairperson for FK Drama Actors notes that environmental conservation campaigns that are dramatic and engaging can capture the public’s attention and motivate them to take immediate action after getting a broader picture of climate change.
“By using creative storytelling techniques, the campaigns can highlight the urgency of environmental issues and inspire people to get involved. Our major aim is to go beyond entertainment and educate local communities and academic institutions,” She noted.
This website has established that the drama groups have mobilized some financial resources to support their efforts in achieving their objective.
Abel Ssemanda, the director of Constar Pictures, claims that a series of dramas have been created to promote environmental protection. The stage designs for this drama feature environmental imagery, while the actors’ outfits and makeup have a significant impact on societal production and human endeavours.
By concentrating on creating important content, the entertainment business may also help to safeguard the environment. “Ideas about environmental conservation will gradually get into people’s hearts.,” Ssemanda believes.
Another director, Gordon Ssuubi of Harvester Drama Players, claims that environmental drama may be a significant art form to advance the idea of environmental protection and offer directional guidance.
As a result of the persistent downpour, several houses, crops, livestock, roads and bridges have all been destroyed and the water sources contaminated. Still, Kame valley and the recently constructed bridge at Lweza were recently washed away by running water.
NWSC Survey
According to the National Water and Sewage Cooperation’s most recent survey in the Mukono Municipality, 80 percent of all open water sources are polluted by uncontrolled runoff from industrial and residential areas, the nearness to latrines and open waste disposal sites.
Data from the National Forestry Administration shows that at least 4,000 large forests in these districts remain severely degraded. This equates to around 13 percent of the 29. 974 hectares of trees that were once present in those forests.
In Mabira, Uganda’s largest tropical forest, the fruit trees which are supposed to provide food for primates including Grey Checked Monkeys, Red Tail Monkeys, and Velvet Monkeys were destroyed.
In Mukono, Namanve and Namyoya central forest reserves are completely gone while Bajjo Central Forest reserve in Kayunga district and part of Kisisita Forest reserve in Buikwe district, have been razed by developers who have seized the land to build homes and establish large-scale agricultural projects like sugar plantations.
TAU Administrators
Theatrical Association of Uganda-TAU is an umbrella organisation for drama actors. The Association Director of Human Resources- Swaibu Abbey Kasozi ‘Molodokayi’, applauds the dramatized campaign in Mukono, saying it is a serious spark for educational drama.
Recently, he adds, educational drama has been covered by comics fused with obscenities making it inappropriate for children’s consumption and people with high integrity.
These performers, including musicians, dancers, and actors, have joined together to create a new campaign and through their performances, Kasozi explains, they are reaching large audiences and delivering important messages on the actions to be taken to protect the environment.
Environment Activists
Former Mukono Municipality Mayor, also an Environment Activist and Director at Uganda Registration Services Bureau, George Fred Kagimu says this is a great opportunity for the government to disseminate useful information aimed at protecting the environment.
Agencies such as National Environment Management Authority-NEMA and National Forestry Authority-NFA should support such drama groups with useful research and guiding suggestions on environmental protection for stage performance, according to Kagimu.
“Living an environmentally friendly lifestyle is actually easy and requires just a few small changes,” Kagimu says noting that churches and schools need to adopt the practice of planting trees around their compound, premises and yards.
To prevent any pollution or consuming natural resources, he emphasizes, people need to recycle plastics, volunteer to clean up the environment, reusable products, use fewer chemicals, and always donate to environmental charities.
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