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Youths from around the world are urgently convening to engage in crucial discussions about land and climate solutions, a matter of pressing concern ahead of COP30, set to take place in Brazil.

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By Witness Radio team.

https://witnessradio.orgFrom September 9th to 11th, 2025, nearly 1,000 young people from across the world will gather virtually for the first Land and Youth Digital Conference, organized by the Land Portal Foundation, a leading organization in land rights advocacy. This unique digital format, scheduled just weeks before COP30 (Conference of the Parties) in Brazil, aims to put youth voices at the heart of discussions on land rights and climate governance, highlighting their role as both those most affected by global crises and the drivers of change. The pressing nature of the climate crisis underscores the significance of this event.

The event, which will accommodate a diverse range of participants, including young Indigenous leaders, rural youth, land practitioners, climate activists, and beyond, is convened by the Land Portal Foundation, in partnership with various organizations. This diversity ensures that organisers will present a wide range of perspectives at the conference, fostering a sense of inclusivity among the audience.

Romy Sato, Research & Knowledge Lead at the Land Portal Foundation, says the conference is a platform for young people to share their struggles, propose solutions, and shape action plans.

“Young people are not just at the forefront of the climate and land rights movement; they are the future. They are the ones who will suffer the longest from these consequences. It is why we want this conference to be their stage,” Romy told Witness Radio. Their role in shaping the future is both inspiring and crucial, underscoring the significance of the event.

The conference will feature nine thematic sessions including the; Youth-Led Solutions for Land Restoration (GEF) which involves exploring land, jobs, and youth in the context of environmental recovery, Criminalization of Territorial Defenders (GATC & TINTA) where session holders will highlight the risks faced by young land defenders, and preparing youth for climate resilience which focuses on equipping youth with tools to face future climate realities. These sessions, among others, are aimed at addressing key issues at the intersection of Land, Youth, and Climate Action.

Organisers will provide simultaneous interpretation in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese to ensure broad participation.

Antonio Nyanana, founder and president of Vision for Humanitarian Aid, represents the voices of young land defenders in Mozambique. As a nurse and emerging clinical psychologist, Antonio has spent years empowering youth along the Zambezi River, helping them confront climate change and its impacts. At the Youth and Digital Conference, Antonio and his team will highlight the risks faced by young land defenders in the “Criminalization of Territorial Defenders” workshop session.

He reveals that youths in his country face repression for opposing corporate abuse. “We have much repression coming from the police, government, and corporate companies.” He added.

According to Antonio, challenging this repression is difficult because those in power do not give attention to those affected.

“Our biggest problem is the lack of opportunity to sit at the table with government and lawmakers. We have no chance to present our ideas or vision. We need to work as a team to make them understand that we are fighting to defend our communities. We are going to fight against these repressions,” Antonio explained.

Corporate exploitation adds another layer of challenge. Oil and carbon farming projects rarely benefit local communities, and community participation in decision-making is seldom seen, with social responsibility initiatives captured by elites close to power.

“When you bring an idea that contrasts with the government’s, you have no space to implement it. Corruption keeps opportunities in the hands of those close to power.  But I think that it’s a time to include the communities as a part of land makers in the design of these projects to be more inclusive and to bring more participation. We selected this area to call attention to, to share with the youth that we can do anything to protect our interests,” he further said.

At the conference, Antonio will focus on building climate resilience, promoting youth leadership, and fostering cross-country collaborations. “We want to transform this small movement into a big movement. The youth are tomorrow’s leaders, and by including them now, we prepare them to carry this vision forward.”

Megha Seth, who represents India, is also part of the International Land Coalition Youth Group. She will lead a session titled: “Women’s Rights to Land in a Changing World: Influencing Her Agencies and Choices.”

In an interview with the Witness Radio team, she highlights the disproportionate burden women bear in rural livelihoods, despite controlling less than 10% of land ownership in many regions:

“When you spend a day on a farm, in a forest, or on grazing land, what do you see? Women. They farm, collect forest produce, care for livestock, and milk animals. They make up more than 70% of this labor. And yet, when you ask how much land they actually own, the answer is very heartbreaking, and that is less than 10%. This imbalance is not just a statistic; it is a profound injustice, she revealed.

Her session will explore intersectional barriers, including caste, tribe, religion, ethnicity, and class, underscoring that securing land rights is not just empowerment; it’s a transformation of communities, economies, and governance.

“We are participating because silence is not an option. As young women, we have the energy, vision, and responsibility to reshape the future. Lands are not just land; they are about dignity, justice, and the survival of communities.

I look forward to the dialogue, the exchange, and most importantly, the solidarity we build through this conference.” Megha said.

The Land and Youth Digital Conference aims to influence COP30 discussions by linking youth-led insights to global climate policy. It is fully digital and free, removing economic, geographic, and logistical barriers to participation. “What we want to bring to this conference is energy. The energy of young people to inspire, inform, and transform policies. That energy is what the world urgently needs.” Romy concluded.

The Conference of the Parties is the annual United Nations climate change conference where parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meet to assess progress, negotiate, and decide on strategies to address the climate crisis.

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MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK

Land Grabbing “matter of growing concern” in Uganda, Catholic Archbishop Laments, Appeals for Intervention

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Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere of Uganda’s Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala has decried the rising cases of land grabbing in the East African nation, describing the situation as “a matter of growing concern” that even threatens Church property.

Speaking during celebrations marking the Centenary of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Rubaga, on Sunday, October 26, Archbishop Ssemogerere appealed to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who graced the occasion, to take concrete action to curb the increasing cases of illegal land acquisition.

“Your Excellency, we wish to humbly draw your attention to a matter of growing concern in our country, the problem of land grabbing,” he said.

Archbishop Ssemogerere lamented that land grabbers have targeted land legally allocated to the Church for pastoral and social development purposes.

“There are those landgrabbers who don’t fear the wealth of God,” he said referring to Church land given “by generous people, or allowed by the government for the Church to use, land given to us by the Kingdom of Buganda.”

He warned that such actions have far-reaching consequences, noting that some of the affected properties have long served communities through schools, health facilities, and development projects.

“This challenge affects not only Church land but also property belonging to other institutions and private citizens,” he said, and added, “In some cases, land that has served communities for generations is being encroached on or taken illegally.”

The Local Ordinary of Kampala Archdiocese since his installation in January 2022 appealed to President Museveni-led government to take decisive action against land grabbers, stressing that protecting land rights safeguards not only property but also vital services that institutions provide to Ugandans.

“We therefore appeal to your continued leadership and intervention so that this issue can be addressed firmly and justly,” he told President Museveni.

Referring to Galatians 6:9, the Ugandan-born Catholic Church leader encouraged the country’s national leaders to persevere in promoting justice and the common good.

“As Scripture reminds us, let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season, we shall reap if we do not give up,” he said.

In his October 26 remarks, Archbishop Ssemogerere, who began his Episcopal Ministry in August 2008 as Bishop of Uganda’s Kasana-Luweero Catholic Diocese emphasized the need to safeguard peace as the country approaches its next general election in January 2026.

He emphasized that politics should be a platform for service and that “elections should never divide us but rather strengthen our commitment to justice, respect, and unity.”

Archbishop Ssemogerere added, “Peace is not merely the absence of conflict. It is the fruit of justice, truth, and mutual respect.”

Citing Pope Francis’ November 2013 Apostolic Exhortation on on the proclamation of the Gospel in today’s world, Evangelii Gaudium, he reminded politicians and religious leaders in the East African nation that leadership is a vocation of service.

“Politics, though often degraded, remains a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity, inasmuch as it seeks the common good,” he said

Reflecting on the St. Mary’s Rubaga Cathedral’s 100-year history, the Ugandan Catholic Archbishop described it as a “symbol of faith, endurance, and God’s abiding presence among His people.”

He noted that the Cathedral has stood “through colonial times, independence, and social change” as a beacon of evangelization and unity.

“This sacred place has stood as a witness to Uganda’s journey of faith, from the first seeds planted by the early missionaries to the flourishing Catholic community, we see today,” he said, and continued, “Through it all, God has been faithful.”

Archbishop Ssemogerere further noted that the Cathedral “has been a refuge for prayer, a cradle of vocations, and a beacon of evangelization.”

“May it continue to inspire holiness, unity, and love for God and country,” said Archbishop Ssemogerere in his remarks during the October 26 centenary celebration.

Source: aciafrica.org

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REC25 & EXPO Ends with a call on Uganda to balance conservation and livelihood

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By: Witness Radio team

The week of 20th September 2025, Uganda hosted the Renewable Energy Conference 2025 to discuss and advance the clean energy agenda. Its purpose this time was to foster collaboration among the government, the private sector, and development partners to transform energy systems. Still, the development partners are calling on the government of Uganda to balance conservation and livelihoods.

The Renewable Energy Conference (REC) 2025, which focused on clean cooking to meet the national target of 50% access by 2030, provided an opportunity for representatives of the German and European Union embassies to underscore the importance of balancing environmental conservation and livelihoods.

The German Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Matthias Schauer, stated that “transforming systems for livelihoods and conservation” are essential elements in the renewable energy sector.

“The theme, Transforming Energy Systems for Livelihoods and Conservation, I consider these two elements to be essential: livelihoods and conservation. Without energy, it is tough to establish livelihoods, but without conservation, you will be destroying them again sooner or later. They need to be well-balanced.” Matthias Schauer stated

He says, “At the same time, they strengthened local capacity, promoted innovative financing mechanisms to expand access to clean energy. Our partnership reflects a shared vision, unlocking Uganda’s potential, and that potential is huge. Fostering inclusive growth and ensuring that the benefits of energy transformation reach all communities, including remote and refugee hosting areas.” Matthias Schauer said.

He said that Germany’s goal is to advance access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and clean energy for all, in line with Sustainable Development Goal No. 7, while fostering local ownership.

The European Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Jan Sadek, on the other hand, emphasized that “the moment has come to move from dialogue to action. We are confident that Uganda will continue to lead by example, and Team Europe is ready to contribute to turning the insights from this conference into tangible impacts.” This urgent call to action should resonate with all stakeholders, highlighting the pressing need for change.

Jan also stated that, “The time for coordinated and accelerated investment in solutions to phase out the unsustainable use of firewood and charcoal is now. Together, we have a real opportunity to make a significant difference, and the EU is committed to contributing its part.” This commitment from the EU should reassure all stakeholders about the support they can expect.

While the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa Sentamu, stated that this year’s energy conference discussion has deepened their collaboration and collective understanding of what it truly means to transform energy systems from a livelihoods and conservation perspective.

As the Transition journey continues, Nankabirwa expressed confidence that through the performance reviews of the Ministry’s sustainable energy and extractive development programs, they have collectively assessed progress made under Development Plan 3 and have identified clear pathways for accelerated implementation of National Development Plan 4.

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StopEACOP Coalition warns TotalEnergies and CNOOC investors of escalating ‘financial and reputational’ Risks

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By Witness Radio Team

The StopEACOP Coalition has issued a warning to shareholders and bondholders of TotalEnergies and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), urging them to reconsider their funding of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) due to the companies’ growing self-financing of the project that exposes shareholders and bondholders to gross financial and reputational risks.

In a public statement released alongside its Finance Risk Briefing Update No. 6, the coalition revealed that the two energy giants have quietly decided to increase their financial commitments to the $5.6 billion pipeline, stepping in as lenders to their own project. This move reflects the collapse of external financing for EACOP amid widespread rejection by international banks and insurers due to the project’s environmental, human rights, and climate risks. These risks include environmental, human rights concerns, and climate-related issues.

According to EACOP Limited’s 2024 annual report, TotalEnergies and CNOOC have provided additional facilities through shareholder loans to fund what remains of the construction budget.

Initially projected to cost up to $3.5 billion and intended to be financed with 40% equity and 60% debt, the project’s cost has since increased to a whopping $5.6 billion. The two companies have already injected roughly $2.8 billion in equity and secured around $755 million in external loans, leaving a debt gap of approximately $2 billion. Currently, TotalEnergies and CNOOC are moving to cover that shortfall themselves, bringing their total funding to about $4.8 billion, or 86% of the project’s total cost, more than triple what they had initially planned to use.

“This is a shocking example of developers financing their own controversial project after being rejected by global financial institutions. It shows that the EACOP is no longer financially viable without corporate self-funding and that investors in these companies are now directly financing one of the most destructive fossil fuel projects in the world,” Reads part of the statement.

The coalition argues that by turning inward for financing, TotalEnergies and CNOOC have transferred financial, legal, and reputational risks to their own shareholders and bondholders.

“Now, to keep the project alive, TotalEnergies and CNOOC are turning inward, relying on their own balance sheets and, by extension, your capital. The situation increases your financial risk, deepens your exposure to the project’s growing controversy, and links your investment portfolios even more directly to the environmental destruction, human rights abuses, and climate chaos that EACOP represents,” the statement says.

“This means that institutional investors holding TotalEnergies or CNOOC securities are now directly linked to the project’s growing controversies, from land grabs and community displacement to the threat it poses to climate goals.”

EACOP is a 1,443-kilometer pipeline stretching from Uganda’s Lake Albert oilfields to the Tanzanian coast, which has faced heavy opposition since its inception. This opposition is due to threats to biodiversity and the environment, as well as to people’s displacement among others.

It is from this that the STOPEACOP coalition is calling for active engagement with TotalEnergies and CNOOC to jointly address human rights and environmental risks and identify a time-bound escalation strategy, where investors publicly set deadlines for the companies to act, backed by credible consequences such as voting against board members or divesting from the companies altogether.

“We are therefore calling upon the shareholders and bondholders of TotalEnergies and CNOOC to act with integrity and foresight, in line with their responsibilities under the UNGPs and the OECD Guidelines, to avoid contributing to severe human rights and environmental impacts associated with the operations of your portfolio companies,” reads the statement.

In the last three years, over 20 major banks and 23 insurers have publicly ruled out support for the EACOP project, citing misalignment with global climate targets and reputational concerns.

The Finance Risk Briefing shows that 43 banks have ruled out financing for the 1,443 km pipeline since the project began.

Governments and international organizations have also faced mounting pressure to intervene, as civil society movements in Uganda, Tanzania, and abroad intensify opposition to its implementation due to its adverse effects.

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