Fort Portal: How UCWA is Turning Catholic Women into Climate Change Ambassadors

In a world increasingly affected by climate change, the Uganda Catholic Women Association (UCWA)in Fort Portal Catholic Diocese has become a true example of faith in action, promoting not only spiritual growth but also strong advocacy for environmental protection.

Through various trainings, members of the Uganda Catholic Women Apostolate (UCWA) who have been reached by Jubilee Radio have embraced sustainable farming practices on their small plots of land, using organic fertilizers to improve and increase their harvests.

Venerando Birungi, a UCWA member from Kanyabacope Parish in Kyenjojo District, narrated how she learned a firewood-saving cooking method that cooks food quickly and allows it to steam in a short time.

She explained that before joining UCWA, she spent long hours collecting firewood and used large amounts to prepare meals. However, the training introduced her to locally built, energy-efficient cooking stoves that use minimal firewood, relieving pressure on nearby trees and forests.

Birungi, testified that her kitchen is now a model of sustainable living, with less smoke, more savings, and improved environmental protection. She added that the stove requires only a few pieces of firewood, which eventually turn into charcoal. This charcoal cooks swiftly, and once it is ready, food boils as quickly as if she were using electricity.

According to Birungi, the stoves are not only environmentally friendly but also help women steam their local foods more easily, encouraging healthier eating habits.

Earlier this week, over 1,000 women belonging to UCWA in Fort Portal Diocese gathered for a pilgrimage to Virika Cathedral in celebration of the Jubilee Year of Hope. Their participation demonstrated not only their spiritual commitment but also socioeconomic readiness for personal development.

In her address, Restetuta Balinda Mboijana, the UCWA President for Fort Portal Diocese, noted that women in the various parishes have undergone extensive training aimed at both spiritual and economic growth. She highlighted programs such as environmental protection and expressed gratitude that women in parishes like Bisozi and Biguli are already benefiting from the energy-saving stove initiative. Others have been trained in agroecology-friendly farming techniques, including the use of biochar to enrich the soil.

She encouraged women to remain focused and to make the best use of whatever land they have, enriching it with cow dung and biochar so that they can produce enough food for their families and even surplus for sale, thereby boosting their financial independence.

Jane Frances Kamashamba, the National UCWA President, appealed to women to lead the efforts in environmental protection, describing them as “mothers of nature.” She urged them to plant more trees, noting that the association has already distributed several fruit tree varieties.

Referring to Pope Francis’ encyclical ”Laudato Si’‘, Kamashamba also encouraged women to avoid practices that harm the environment, including the careless disposal of plastics, and to ensure such waste is properly collected and discarded.

According to Venerando Birungi, UCWA has also announced new programs aimed at equipping Catholic women with knowledge on organic nutrition and healthy feeding. She believes these efforts will significantly contribute to reducing the worrying levels of stunting and malnutrition in the region.