By Chris Mugasha
A Catholic Priest in Bushenyi district has announced a campaign against the practice of laying of wrapped flowers/wreaths on coffins during the burial ceremonies.
Rev. Fr Evalist Mutambi of St. Kagwa Parish in Bushenyi district wants relatives and friends to instead adopt laying of seedlings of trees on coffins which can later be planted instead of flowers wrapped in polythene bags which are left to degrade the environment.
Mutambi said this move is part of the strategies intended to fight kavera if nature/environment is to be conserved. Mutambi said he is aware that he will face resistance and challenges from some traditionalists and flowerists but vowed to start the campaign.
During burial ceremonies, relatives, friends….wrap flowers in kavera (polythene bag) which they lay on coffins of the deceased as a sign of love and saying good-bye to deceased. Some use natural flowers while others use artificial flowers. The artificial flowers rot and the kavera is left to scatter in the environment.
The Priest said God cannot be happy when nature/the environment is under destruction.
“By planting a tree especially those of fruits, the deceased’s legacy will live on and by doing that we shall also be increasing on greening the environment” Mutambi said adding that, “people will also remember that this tree was planted on the day when so and so…was buried.”
Mutambi further added that efforts should be put in place so that every function is commemorated by planting a tree. “The rate of environmental destruction is very higher,” Mutambi explained.
Mutambi was on Thursday addressing Members of Make Bushenyi Great Again (MBUGA) who launched a tree planting campaign across Bushenyi district.
The group that was led by its leader Pison Mugizi was flagged off by the Bushenyi District leadership who included; the Resident District Commissioner Emmy Ngabirano, the district chairman Jaffari Bassajjabalaba and the district Chief Administrative officer Sanyu Phiona. The launch took place at the district headquarters before the team moved to Bushenyi/Ishaka Municipality grounds, St. Kagwa Parish headquarters, Bassajjalaba Mosque and St. Peter’s Cathedral Bweranyangi the headquarters of West Ankole Diocese.
Other institutions where the team planted and distributed tree seedlings to leaders include; Kabushaho secondary school, Kabushaho primary school, Kyabugimbi Town council and Rutooma health centre III in Kyeizoba Sub County. Ngabirano commended the team for the initiative. He said the rate of deforestation is very high than the rate of planting.
The RDC Emmy Ngabirano described trees as the most reliable friends and very important in mitigating the effects of climate change. “It’s a tree that will never abandon you. It provides us/you with a good breath, rain, firewood to prepare our/your food among others. Even at the last minute, it provides a timber that will cover you in the grave/coffin. It’s the best friend that can’t abandon you,” Ngabirano said. “Everything that we do rotate around nature and all that we do can’t succeed without nature,” said Bassajjabalaba. He commended MBUGA for supporting government efforts.
Bassajjabalaba noted that there is need to increase funding for protection of the environment by the government. End.
The activity in pictures
