Kaziimba bans kaveera in Anglican churches

The Church of Uganda has banned the use of polythene packaging papers (kaveera) and other plastic items in all places of worship under the Anglican faith in a new drive to protect the environment.

Church of Uganda Archbishop Stephen Samuel Kaziimba announced the ban yesterday saying it is time for transformative action to protect natural ecosystems to reduce the risk of future pandemics.

“Let us keep all places of worship plastic-free. You have no reason to carry a kaveera or a single use plastic bottle to church. If you must refresh at church, carry your water bottle and keep refilling it. I now urge all worship places to put in place water dispensers for those who can afford or any safe water containers at worship places or canteens as opposed to single use bottles,” Archbishop Kaziimba said while launching the plastic-free places of worship campaign at his Namirembe residence in Kampala.

The prelate also asked all schools, when they reopen, to discourage parents from going to institutions of learning with plastic bags. He said children should be given containers where to pack their snacks, but not in plastic bags, which destroy the environment.  The Church of Uganda signed a memorandum of understanding with World Wide Fund (WWF) to enhance nature conservation.

Archbishop Kaziimba linked the emerging epidemics to reckless disposal of plastic and polythene materials that have jeopardised the environment.

WWF country director David Duli described the church as the best partner to work with given its platform that reaches out to all people in the country.

“This partnership is a great opportunity to galvanise faith and reconnect members of the church with the original intention of God during creation. 

“The church also runs several schools, health institutions and businesses who would benefit most from strategies being promoted through this partnership,” he said.

Mr Duli explained that despite the various great initiatives by stakeholders, biodiversity has continued to decline. He said Ugandans must rethink new strategies for biodiversity conservation.

Church of Uganda Provincial Secretary Rev Can William Ongeng said the partnership will create community awareness of the importance of preserving our gift of nature that God gave all nations.

In May, the Church of Uganda counterparts, the Catholic Church, banned the use of all polythene materials at Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine Namugongo.

“The Uganda Episcopal Conference declares that starting this year, the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations held annually on June 3 at the Catholic Shrine in Namugongo, will no longer welcome kaveera.  In subsequent years, this initiative will be extended to other Catholic shrines,” Uganda Episcopal Conference chairperson Bishop Joseph Antony Zziwa said.

He said the Church joined the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) to make Uganda Martyrs’ Day celebrations environmentally friendly by making the shrine free of kaveera.

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