By Witness Radio Team.

A global coalition, comprising more than 140 organizations and 110 public figures, including national ministries, major human rights organizations, grassroots movements, and prominent intellectuals, is calling for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) Summit to focus on reparatory and climate justice for both Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples. This coalition represents a diverse range of stakeholders, all united in their commitment to addressing the historical injustices that have been faced by these communities.

Time is of the essence as afro-descendants and Indigenous people worldwide continue to face ongoing challenges in environmental justice and evictions due to historical marginalization and discrimination. The urgency of these issues cannot be overstated; immediate action is necessary to prevent further harm.

These groups frequently have their land rights ignored, deal with forced evictions, and face environmental dangers like toxic waste. They also struggle with not having enough political representation, insufficient legal protection, and violence against those defending their territories.

This November, the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) will convene in Belém, Brazil, bringing together world leaders, policymakers, civil society organizations, scientists, and corporations to negotiate collective action against the climate crisis.

The United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held annually. It is a crucial platform where global leaders, policymakers, civil society organizations, scientists, and corporations come together to negotiate collective action against the climate crisis.

But before this year’s annual sitting, a global coalition argues that the COP30 gathering in Brazil addresses the interconnected crises of colonial histories and climate breakdown that have consistently affected these marginalized groups.

The petitioners link today’s climate emergency to centuries of greenhouse emissions, extraction, dispossession, and racial violence rooted in slavery, colonialism, and imperialist systems that have enriched the Global North while leaving Afro-descendant, Indigenous, and local communities in developing nations bearing the heaviest burdens of environmental destruction.

This appeal is presented through an open letter launched by the Instituto Luiz Gama (Brazil), the Global Afro-descendant Climate Collaboration for Climate Justice, and Resilient40 (Uganda), among others. The letter is being addressed to the Brazilian presidency and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat.

Among other signatories to this global cause are national ministries, major human rights organizations, grassroots movements, and prominent intellectuals, including Colombia’s Ministry of Environment, Amnesty International USA, among others.

The petitioners stress that genuine climate justice cannot exist without reparatory justice. Mariama Williams, a Senior Strategic Advisor at the Global Afro-descendant Climate Justice Collaborative, notes that climate talks often treat justice as a rhetorical flourish rather than a necessary obligation based in history and law.

“By centering the legacies of enslavement, colonialism, and extractivism, this global call highlights the structural roots of climate vulnerability and makes clear that effective solutions must dismantle the economic and political asymmetries that continue to shape our world.” She added.

Accordingly, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has acknowledged that colonialism is a driver of climate vulnerability. The open letter builds on this recognition, emphasizing that addressing the climate crisis necessitates confronting the structural injustices inherent in the global economy.

COP30 is to be held in Belém, near the Amazon rainforest. This location, with its symbolic significance and immediate importance, is not only crucial for the planet’s survival but also home to communities whose experiences with colonization and marginalization have significantly impacted their vulnerability. We must act to protect vital ecosystems, such as the Amazon, and the people who call them home.

Renato Aparecido Gomes, President of Instituto Luiz Gama, stressed that Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities in the Amazon offer low-carbon, equitable models of development rooted in ancestral land care, and that the climate crisis cannot be solved without centering their demands for reparatory and restorative justice.

Civil society groups insist that COP30 must be a turning point, where climate negotiations stop sidelining justice and reparation for victims of historical injustices becomes a central focus. For them, the fight against climate change and the struggle for reparations are inseparable.

They further claim that the resistance and sustainability practices of Afro-descendant and Indigenous peoples present a unique opportunity for the global community to learn and reshape climate governance around equity, rights, and historical accountability. Their resilience and wisdom can guide us towards a more just and sustainable future.

As the letter concludes, “Climate action cannot be considered independently of global justice. Their leadership, knowledge, and rights are not optional extras, but essential for building a just and livable future.”

COP30 will take place from November 10 to 21, 2025, in Belém, Brazil. It remains to be seen whether global leaders will heed this call for justice.

By Witness Radio team.

During the 9th National Land Awareness Week, a campaign aimed at educating communities on their land rights and promoting sustainable land use in Eastern Uganda, Land actors unveiled shocking realities. Local communities revealed that the issue of escalating land grabbing in Sebei and Bugisu was a potential trigger for violent conflict if left unresolved.

The 5-day-long activity, held under the theme “Promoting Land Rights and Sustainable Land Use for Inclusive and Sustainable Development,” created opportunities for engagement with farming communities, local governments, and customary landowners. However, the stories that emerged were filled with tales of dispossession, impunity, and betrayal, with influential individuals and state agencies involved in serious violations and abuses that have continued to fuel conflict, insecurity, and suffering in rural areas.

Lwanga Deborah Marie, who works with ActionAid International Uganda and is one of the experts who participated in the campaign, noted that it has become alarmingly easy for politically connected individuals to take land from impoverished communities.

“Many community members, the have-nots, are the majority. The haves are the minority. But there have been a lot of stories, a lot of testimonies coming in from the community regarding people with power, people with money, people with connections, coming in to displace the vast majority of the communities and go ahead to get titles, land titles to land on which community members are staying.”

In Kween district, sub-counties such as Ngenge, Ngiriki, and Chepsukunya were cited as hotspots. Experts warned that this unchecked pattern of elite-driven land grabbing could spark instability. “It is a ticking time bomb. If it is not addressed, there are fears it could cause bloodshed,” Deborah cautioned.

The experts also uncovered allegations of violent evictions by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), which has displaced ancestral communities in the name of conservation. Reports gathered during the campaign pointed to killings, injuries, destruction of crops, and illegal detentions carried out during UWA’s operations.

“We received reports of people shot at and killed, and those shot and injured. We actually met individuals with their stories and medical records regarding these UWA violations and the destruction of food crops,” Deborah recounted.

Such behavior is deemed inhumane and violates people’s human rights, as Deborah explained.

“And this violates not only the right to food but also the right to life. It violates the right to be free from cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. The situation is unacceptable. There have been reports of illegal detentions by UWA. These have been one of the troubling revelations during our interactions with community members,” she said.

One community in Kapkwata, commonly referred to as Rwanda village, was forced off its ancestral land to create space for the Kapkwata forest reserve. Since eviction, the residents have been living in what experts likened to an internally displaced persons’ camp—without toilets, health facilities, or farmland. Their demand, as experts relayed, is not charity but justice: an alternative land to rebuild their lives.

The activity also revealed a disturbing pattern of gender discrimination in land ownership. According to these experts, they noted that even when women contribute money toward purchasing land, they are not recognized as co-owners but merely as “witnesses.”

“The bigger picture of their rights being violated is their land rights,” Deborah explained. “We heard testimonies of women contributing money towards land purchases, but they didn’t appear as co-owners. They only appeared as witnesses.” Experts warned that these practices not only deny women economic security but also perpetuate cycles of marginalization across generations.

Byantalo Hassan Abdallah, an officer from the Ministry of Lands, acknowledged government shortcomings. He admitted that communities evicted by UWA have been waiting in vain for resettlement for years, despite repeated promises of assistance. “The government has promised several times to resettle them, but this has not come to pass,” he said.

While some displaced families have been moved to Bulambuli district under interventions by the Office of the Prime Minister, communities like Rwanda remain in limbo. But Byantalo says the government and the Ministry are working hard to resettle this community.

“During the discussions that we had on the ground, especially with the communities in Rwanda, they clearly stated to us that officials from the Ministry of Land and Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) came and visited them and told them they were trying to secure some piece of land on which these people are yet to be resettled. So, the government is not seated, the Ministry of Land is working with other government agencies and ministries.” Byantalo expressed

Other structural challenges were identified, including land registration costs, which continue to prevent people from accessing formal protection. The experts also pointed to dysfunctional Area Land Committees, many of whose members confessed ignorance of their roles, thereby worsening disputes instead of resolving them.

Experts involved in the campaign called for significant reforms and follow-ups. They urged the government to prioritize resettling displaced communities fairly and with dignity, making land registration more affordable and transparent, providing widespread education to dispel myths about customary titles, and training Area Land Committees to perform their roles effectively.

They also emphasized the need to protect women’s land rights and close gender gaps in ownership, while holding state agencies, such as UWA, accountable for human rights abuses.

Christine Nabunya, a lawyer and land rights advocate, summed up the call: “We need more empowerment and sensitization of communities. Most people believe they don’t have the right to land, especially women. That is really absurd.”

As the Awareness Week concluded with a roundtable discussion, the experts unanimously agreed: the land grabbing in Sebei and Bugisu is not just a matter of property; it’s a matter of justice, survival, and peace. The stark injustice of these land issues should stir a sense of moral outrage, compelling us to work towards a fair and equitable resolution.

If the escalating land grabbing, compounded by violent state-backed evictions, is not addressed, the region could be plunged into deeper conflict. For farming communities, land is not just an asset but the foundation of food security and livelihoods. Losing it, experts warn, means losing the future. This potential for deeper conflict should underscore the gravity of the situation.

“The communities are crying out not for aid, but for justice,” Deborah said. “If we fail to act, we risk a crisis that will be far costlier to solve.” The resilience of these communities in the face of such adversity is truly inspiring.

By Witness Radio team.

Uganda will celebrate the 5th National Tree Planting Day (NTPD) on Friday, 3rd October 2025, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to combat deforestation and restore its natural environment. This day marks the culmination of the annual Running Out of Trees (ROOTs) campaign, led by the Ministry of Water and Environment, along with its partners.

This year’s event will take place at Busoga College Mwiri in Jinja District, Busoga Sub-Region, bringing together government institutions, private sector players, cultural and religious leaders, schools, and local communities under a shared mission to restore Uganda’s forests.

Since 1990, Uganda’s forest cover has decreased from 24% to just 12.2% in 2023. This decline is due to deforestation, land conversion, and population growth. The impacts, including degraded soils, reduced biodiversity, water shortages, and increased climate extremes like floods and droughts, are being felt across the nation.

The ROOTs campaign was launched to reverse this trend, and this year, the target is to plant 40 million trees, with the expectation that each Ugandan will plant at least one tree. This year’s theme, “Revive, Restore, Sustain: Indigenous Species for Uganda’s Future,” highlights the urgent need to protect and replant native trees, which are essential for biodiversity, soil fertility, and climate resilience.

Launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) through the Forestry Sector Support Department (FSSD), the ROOTs campaign collaborates with private sector partners, development partners, and civil society organizations. It began at the 2014 Climate Change Summit, where Uganda committed to restoring 2.5 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

Over the years, the campaign has achieved significant milestones. For example, in 2023, partners planted 20,480,357 tree seedlings, and over 12,000,000 seedlings were planted in 2021. However, the goal of 40 million has not yet been met. Organizers, including the Ministry of Water and Environment and Environmental Alert, are optimistic about reaching the target this year.

This year’s event is to be celebrated in the Busoga sub-region. The region was selected because it has experienced significant environmental degradation, which has impacted its ecosystem and productivity. Hosting the 2025 NTPD at Busoga College Mwiri, which was founded in 1911 on a previously forested hill, is symbolic. The event will not only restore Mwiri Hill but will also expand efforts to Wanyange Hill and the Kyabazinga’s Igenge Hill, focusing on planting indigenous trees to restore ecological balance.

“Looking at the Busoga region, we all know that in the 1960s and 1970s, Busoga was actually one of the food baskets for the country, and at this peak today, the region is highly degraded. We have environmental degradation, affecting both the ecosystem and land productivity, which is likely due to the large-scale opening up of the ecosystem for monoculture sugarcane farming. So, the region is under stress from climate change, largely due to environmental degradation.” Senior Forest Officer at the Ministry of Water and Environment, Ms Irene Nanyondo, told the Witness Radio team.

Further, Nanyondo added that these communities are also facing food insecurity and a host of other challenges stemming from degraded ecosystems, which was the reason the campaign was held there. “So, we want to go there, because the root campaign is also about creating massive awareness on issues of environmental conservation. So, we want to go and speak to the people of Busoga about the current status of the region, and how we can restore this region.”

Leading up to the main event, the Mwiri Old Boys Association (MOBA) will organize a week-long Homecoming Program from September 27 to October 3. The theme will be “Road Safety and Environment Awareness.” Activities will include walks from Kampala, Mukono, Jinja, and Mwiri Primary School, with tree planting along the routes. There will be community clean-ups in Iganga and Jinja, as well as radio talk shows to raise awareness about deforestation and the importance of tree planting and soil conservation.

The NTPD will bring together thousands of Ugandans to plant 40,000 indigenous tree seedlings at Busoga College Mwiri, complemented by an additional 10,000 seedlings planted during Homecoming Week. In total, 50,000 trees will be planted and geo-mapped as part of this year’s drive.

Expected outcomes include raising awareness among communities and schools about the importance of planting and caring for trees. The campaign will also promote Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) and sustainable land management practices, leading to improved soil fertility and increased biodiversity. Additionally, a digital Monitoring, Verification, and Reporting (MVR) system will be developed and implemented to track restoration efforts, aiming for at least 80% stakeholder participation in monitoring and reporting progress.

The ROOTs campaign is not just about planting trees; it’s a national movement for environmental stewardship. Witness Radio joins the government and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in calling upon every Ugandan to participate, whether by planting a tree, nurturing one, or spreading the message of ecological conservation. Your participation is crucial for the success of this initiative.

On October 3, 2025, let’s come together at Busoga College Mwiri and across the country to secure a greener, healthier, and more resilient Uganda for future generations. Witness Radio will be on the ground to provide live updates, stories, and voices from the celebrations, highlighting the hope and restoration that this campaign represents. Together, we can make a significant difference in our environment.