YUMBE BASED NGO USES FOOTBALL TO CREATE AWARENESS ABOUT SHEA TREE CONSERVATION

Press conference for shea tree conservation tournament. Photo by Albert Onzoma.
 
By Albert Onzoma
 
Arua City
 
Shea Nut and natural oils conservation limited a Non-Governmental Organization based in Midigo sub county, Yumbe district is using football tournament together with other interventions as a tool to create awareness and in conserving shea nut tree species and combat climate change in West Nile region.
 
Imran Ejotre the Chief Executive Officer of shea nut and natural oils conservation limited details the major aim and purpose of organizing the tournament.
 
“We know as an organization that it is the life of young people which is at stake and they should therefore be involved and be aware as well, so we organize this shea tree conservation tournament to remind them to take charge of their environment because nobody is going to come and protect our environment for us. If we continue to cut trees for charcoal very soon or later there will be no firewood for cooking food at home so we use this platform to bring that narrative and we use shea as an entry point.”
 
Hakim Sijali the conservation officer of shea nut and natural oils conservation limited defines the theme for the third edition of shea tree conservation tournament.
 
“As the theme for this third edition of shea tree conservation tournament suggests, we are harnessing the spirit of sports to create awareness about the roles shea tree plays in combating climate change as we know climate is real and is impacting devastatingly. Our program also looks at mitigation and adaptation measures that the communities can adapt in their farming systems, all these are aimed at making sure that the communities’ live together with nature without destroying it.”     
Osman Miraj the chairman of the conservation tournament explains the goal of the tournament.
 
“We have raised nursery bed of forty five thousand seedlings and the goal of the shea tree conservation tournament is to make it the best football tournament in the country. In ten years’ time we intend to make the whole of Uganda a shea country and we shall invite teams from the different parts of the country to play in this tournament.” 
 
Shea tree tournament is an annual football tournament which started in 2022 and the third edition will be kicked off Tuesday December 10, 2024 in Midigo Yumbe district and has attracted teams from Yumbe, Koboko and Moyo districts and winners will receive trophies and other prices.