The Uganda Episcopal Conference, through its social development arm Caritas Uganda, has launched a nationwide campaign aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the environment.
Central to this initiative is the elimination of plastic use, especially single-use plastics, which are among the leading contributors to environmental degradation.
The campaign is being implemented through the Catholic Church’s vast grassroots network from families and parishes to schools, institutions, and all 19 Catholic dioceses across the country.
By leveraging this structure, Caritas Uganda aims to promote sustainable practices and raise awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution.
Burning plastic releases harmful gases such as carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and hydrogen chloride (HCl), along with toxic pollutants like dioxins, furans, mercury, and volatile organic compounds.
When plastics are disposed of indiscriminately, they clog water channels, contaminate soil, and pose serious threats to ecosystems and human health.
During a recent strategy dialogue to guide the campaign’s rollout, the Bishop of Masaka Diocese and President of Caritas Uganda, Rt. Rev. Serverus Jjumba, emphasized the urgent need for all stakeholders to prioritize plastic elimination.
He revealed that Masaka Diocese has already banned the use of single-use polythene bags and other harmful plastics including as packaging for gifts and offertories to protect the environment.
“If we continue to ignore this crisis, we risk a decline in agricultural productivity and severe consequences for the poor,” Bishop Jjumba warned. “Caring for creation is caring for the vulnerable among us.”
Rev. Fr. Hilary Muhezangango, the National Director of Caritas Uganda, echoed this sentiment, stating that pollution is not just an environmental issue, but a moral one.
“This calls for a united, national response. We must speak and act with one voice to protect our common home,” he said.
Adding a global perspective, Dr. Haridas Varikottil, Director of Caritas India, noted that over 400 million tones of plastic are produced annually much of which ends up in landfills, lakes, rivers, oceans, and wetlands.
“The unconscious use of plastics is one of the most pressing threats facing our planet,” he said.
The Church’s campaign aligns with Pope Francis’s call in ‘Laudato Si’ for responsible stewardship of the earth and care for the environment as a shared moral duty.
By Gideon Ssebulime
18th Sept 2025
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