Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Nile Breweries limited (NBL), through its Jinja Maltings plant, has donated waste disposal and segregation plastic bins to Jinja Referral Hospital in commemoration of the world environment day.
These were handed over to the hospital acting director, Dr Angela Namala earlier this week as part of NBL’s effort to encourage recycling in the communities but also help the hospital to improve waste segregation practices.
“As NBL, we practice recycling in our breweries but this is not enough, we see need to encourage our communities to do it as well. This is why we have donated plastic waste disposal bins to Jinja Referral Hospital to improve waste segregation practices to support reducing waste, ensuring proper waste disposal, and enhancing recycling in communities,” said Alex Mugerwa, Maltings Plant Manager.
Dr Angela Namala applauded NBL’s efforts and reechoed the importance of environment conservation.
“Not conserving the environment affects our health especially those who stay there. This directly concerns us as a health institution because there are many other infections that we get from, not only carbon particles in environment but also water pollution, poor waste management that affects sanitation thus causing more health problems,” she said.
Both Mugerwa and Namala emphasized that once waste is segregated, it is easier to recycle for reuse or economic gain and also dispose dangerous waste appropriately.
This was part of NBL’s commemoration activities for World Environment Day 2022, which is celebrated on June 5th every year. The other activities included commissioning of a 5000litres water tank that was donated to Njeru Primary School, planting trees at Njeru primary school and NBL premises and sensitization of pupils at the school about environment conservation.
This year’s world environment day celebration was themed ‘Only One Earth’, with focus on living sustainably in harmony with nature. This year’s spotlight on Water, Carbon, and Recycling are in line with NBL’s sustainability goals which include; smart agriculture, water stewardship, circular packaging and climate action, all aimed at environmental protection and sustainability.
Commenting on the tree planting and water tank donation at Njeru Primary School, Ashir Mori, the NBL Plant Manager Jinja said the 5000litre tank installed will go a long way to help the school which has over 400 scholars manage its water needs sustainably and also encourage the young generation to be advocators of environment protection and conservation.
“For us to conserve our environment, everyone must play a role. Many are not aware of how their activities affect the environment, this is why awareness right from the grass roots is critical.
We want to empower children in our community to be champions of environment conservation and also provide them with a practical resource,” said Mori.
“Our business is one that is closely tied to the natural environment. As a brewery we contribute enormously to conserving the environment. Our purpose is that we dream big to create a world wit more cheers, this basically means brewing sustainably, brewing with the least water and brewing with the environment in mind,” he added.
As part of the commemorations, both at Njeru Primary School and Jinja hospital, staff of Nile Breweries planted trees in collaboration with Busoga Development Agency and Makerere Business School, Jinja branch. Busoga Development Agency team was led by Executive Director Mr.Jamil Mawazi while Makerere Business School, Jinja branch team was led by Director Jinja Campus Ms Veronica Mukyala.
