If I had a dollar for every time I heard something like this, we might have been able to muster up the supposed 

$100 billion required for fighting climate change.

 This figure stated at the 15th Conference of Parties in Copenhagen in 2009 has never been realized. 

As the world - especially the developing countries - continues to face the brunt of the worst climate change crisis we have ever seen, the international community and the governments have so far lacked the conviction and the perseverance to assure us of their sincerity in fighting this crisis. 

The spotlight is now on common people. The changemakers, the ones who with just the power of asking the right questions, have challenged the status quo.  By forcing governments and international communities to hear them, they have risen as heroes in their own right. 

This World Environment Day, I would like to celebrate one of them. Born in Uganda, his name is 

. His effort to spread climate education and hold the government to account has inspired millions. It is only appropriate therefore to celebrate him on this iconic day. 

I was fortunate enough to catch up with him yesterday and ask him a few questions. Enjoy! 

Q: First off, how are you? How’s the weekend and what are you planning for World Environment Day tomorrow? 

: The weekend is busy for sure! I’ve been caught up with visas and paperwork since I was planning on doing a Ted Talk in the U.S as well as attending another initiative in Australia and a World Youth Forum in Poland. 

So everything has been pretty hectic lately, but for World Environment Day I wanted to share an important message. My country has just approved a contract for a UK company to start mining in 2023, granting them a license of 21 years. 

It’s important to celebrate World Environment Day but most important to know what our leaders are doing, because if they keep allowing these things to happen, what do all our efforts and discussions matter? They are all a lie. 

Q: I had no idea, I will definitely dive deeper into that. But first I want to know why climate change? Why is this your passion? 

: When I was 9 years old, I and my family were victims of climate change. Back then we had a farm where we used to grow all kinds of crops. 

But because of the illegal sand mining that was taking place near the shores of Lake Victoria, we lost everything and had to leave.

Lake Victoria is the largest freshwater lake in Africa

This sand mining happens because companies realized they could exploit cheap sand for construction - and my country was booming at the time with new development & construction projects - especially through Indian and Chinese investments. It’s my government that hands them these contracts. 

So they started digging holes all over and exploiting the land. The climate was completely upside down. When we expected rain we got sun, and vice-versa. Some heavy rainfall caused flooding and it became unbearable. 

The government of Uganda declared a climate emergency and evacuated all of us that lived in the region. 

We stayed at my grandmother’s place in Kampala 

 and made it through with small jobs. I had to stop my studies and help out. 

Besides being the capital, Kampala is Uganda's largest city

We were used to farming and now we had to adapt. My mom and dad kept pushing through until one day my dad never came back. I guess he saw how he couldn’t sustain us and decided to leave. The guy just left. My mom tried everything to look for him but he was nowhere to be found. 

She was left alone to look after her three children, including me. She struggled to maintain us all but in the end, pulled through. In 2010, she found a job and after 3 years, she told her employer about her story. He decided to sponsor my studies and I completed my education through scholarships until 2019 when I got my diploma in IT.

, another activist here in Uganda, she told me my whole life was linked to climate change, even if I didn’t know it yet. Flooding, seasonal changes, illegal sand mining… These are all things that are linked to climate change. 

And that’s why I’m doing everything I’m doing and studying all these issues. I got involved through her but I was diving into a whole new world. 

That day I went back home to think. I didn't know where to start and I was nervous. 

I began as a social media handler and spread the message. During that time I learned how to share your message and promote our activism. But I also realized that being behind a computer, texting and posting, is not enough. 

So I spoke to my sister in October 2019, and that’s when we started doing 

 and all the other initiatives I’m involved in. 

Q: I can safely say that is the most heartbreaking yet incredible story I’ve heard. I can’t imagine what you and your family have gone through, and the fact that you pulled through and can shine a light on it while spreading such an important message is absolutely amazing. 

…….Left wanting for more? Please pay $3.99 to continue reading the article……..

Psych! I will not make you pay for it but I will make you wait a little longer. This is only the end of Part 1. Stay tuned for Part 2 where we delve deeper into Ugandan politics, the efforts of the international community to fight climate change (or lack thereof), and the future of climate change in the world. Stay tuned! 

Nyombi Morris; Uganda's beacon of hope - Part I

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