The City of Kigali should serve as an example of how political will and public awareness can turn the environment green, environmental activists said in Kampala this week.

Speaking at a public lecture organised under the auspices of the Commonwealth which was held at Hotel Africana, the environmentalists said that many nations continue to pollute the environment at the expense of world inhabitants.

Prof. Oweyegha-Afunaduula, a renowned environmentalist and lecturer at Makerere University in Uganda, said that most countries have increasingly sacrificed the environment through irresponsible development activities.

"I was in Kigali recently and what is on the ground is very encouraging. Everybody respects the environment and every individual plays a role in the maintenance and protection of the environment in a collective effort. This is how we should all behave," said Prof. Charles Kwesiga of the Uganda Industrial Research Institute.

He said that Kigali had adopted a good approach for garbage disposal and treatment which he said was incomparable throughout Africa.

The lecture, held under the theme: "The challenge of Environmental protection in the process of social, economic and political transformation", was part of this year’s Commonwealth Day held earlier this week under the theme "Environment - Our Future".

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