Last Drop Africa

Joseph Kiyimba, a maestro of knowledge at the enchanting Kawempe Church of Uganda Primary School, stands out from the pedagogical crowd. His heart beats not just for textbooks and lesson plans, but for the symphony of climate change. Picture this: In the whimsical year of 2012, fate danced Joseph to this school, a move orchestrated by the mischievous maestro, Flooding. As he set foot on this new educational canvas, the barren grounds echoed the irony of his arrival. Yet, instead of succumbing to the arid reception, Joseph wielded his green wand, transforming the desolation into a thriving oasis. Within the verdant confines of the school garden, he orchestrates a harmonious collaboration with eager learners. Together, they sow the seeds of environmental consciousness, cultivating not just knowledge but a lush tapestry of life. But Joseph's creativity knows no bounds. In a spellbinding twist, he and his students have woven discarded plastics into a mesmerizing gate, a beacon of sustainability rising from the refuse. In the vibrant world of Joseph Kiyimba, teaching isn't just about words on a blackboard; it's about sculpting a future where passion and action waltz hand in hand, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of education and environmental stewardship. His vision is to be the Green Ambassador for all teachers and schools in Uganda in order to replicate his climate change model across the country.

Ojok Okello is a man on a mission. Having been a development expert for over 15 years, he embarked on an impossible mission - to turn a rural village on the bend of ruin for a long-standing war in Northern Uganda into Africa’s first sustainable city. Okere City as it is known is built on what he calls “Uganda’s only niche product” shea butter from shea trees. This “tree of life” has been in the life of Okere's ancestors for time millenia serving a wide array of purposes. Ojok is not about to let it die down on his watch.

Meet Drake Ndyamuhaki, the visionary behind the Bamboo Concept Centre, a dynamic force within the Uganda Bamboo Association. Embark on a journey with Drake as he unravels the remarkable potential of bamboo, sharing his passion, endeavors, and the bold mission to make Bamboo the heartbeat of Uganda's climate revolution. A maestro in both fashion design and environmental innovation, Drake's curiosity led him to explore the limitless possibilities of Bamboo. Currently, the association is nurturing a community of women and youth, imparting knowledge across the diverse facets of the Bamboo value chain. Meanwhile, they're sowing the seeds of change by cultivating 15 hectares of Bamboo in the scenic Nakasongola District. Join us as we delve into this captivating tale of sustainability, style, and the green transformation of Uganda's landscape.

Geofrey Mutabazi is the Founder and CEO of ChargeKo Technologies, an electronic charging solution changing Uganda's energy storage and e-mobility sectors. Charge Ko Technologies is driving mobile hyperconnectivity in Africa by providing public phone charging solutions in public spaces, conferences, events, and rural towns. In this episode, Mutabazi discusses the potential of energy storage solutions and the future of e-mobility in Uganda.

When asked to list innovations in climate change, seldom do people mention storytelling. However, over 90% of climate solutions are mindset/behavioral change-leaning. How, then, do you change the behaviours and attitudes of people towards climate change without the correct information? This is where our partners, Water Journalists Africa and InfoNile, come in. Founded by award-winning journalists Fred Mugira and Annika McGinnis, InfoNile and WJA have created a network of more than 250 journalists, researchers, and scientists under NileWell and leveraged data and artificial intelligence to tell cross-border stories in over 12 countries.

In 2018, cousins Brenda Mpiirwa Ssali and Camilla Kabagyema founded K'wanzi Accents to provide eco-friendly solutions to residential and commercial construction projects from fittings to fixtures and furnishing. With offices in Uganda and Kigali, Brenda sits down with Bella Twine to discuss the impact of their work and their vision for environmental sustainability through climate-friendly engineering and interior design.

Having grown up in a Kampala suburb prone to flooding, Faith Aweko figured out that plastic bags were a significant contributor to drainage blockage and set out to do something about it. She founded a social enterprise organization - Reform Africa - that turns plastic bags into beautiful, waterproof accessories such as handbags and earrings, among others. She sits with Last Drop Africa to discuss her entrepreneurial journey, product portfolio, and impact on her community.

In this episode, Alex Taremwa sits down with Thatcher Mpanga Nakimuli, the Product Design Manager at Kiira Motors Corporation, to discuss the journey of Africa’s first solar bus maker and the future of the e-mobility sector in Uganda. Thatcher, an architect by profession, not only leads the designing of the cars produced at the Kiira Motors Plant, but she also designed all the structures at their 100-acre campus in Jinja Industrial and Business Park. This podcast is produced as part of the Climate Action Hub under the auspices of Africa No Filter and the Mastercard Foundation.

In this special episode of World Environment Day 2023, we take stock of the recent climate disasters in Uganda and the surroundings that call for our immediate action. While this year's theme is #BeatPlasticPollution, we have gone deeper to point out individual actuals that can contribute to a healthier planet. Uganda has registered a heightened number of climate emergencies since the start of 2023, with rivers bursting their banks in different parts of the country, washing away people and crops and displacing many others. Recently River Katonga washed away the main bridge on the Kampala-Masaka Highway, causing major delays in traffic and losses north of $1 million every day. Today we ask, what are you going to do about it?

World leaders, technocrats and energy experts met for the 9th time in Berlin for the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue to share knowledge on plans to transition from fossil fuels to renewables. Uganda was represented by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa, the Permanent Secretary Irene Bateebe, among other stakeholders. Our Co-Founder, Alex Taremwa, met with the Minister on the sidelines of #BETD23 to discuss Uganda's energy transition, the barriers, and opportunities for the private sector.

Effective April 1, 2023, Uganda's National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) will begin implementing its express penalty scheme that was announced on February 8. Among the breaches listed is “littering from cars", which will attract a maximum fine of up to Shs6m (US$1,632). Alex Taremwa, the Co-Founder of Last Drop Africa, sat down with NEMA Corporate Communications Manager, Naomi Karekaho to understand the thinking behind the penalty scheme, the public reaction to it and how it will be implemented. 

COP 27 happened for the first time on the African Continent. As expected, African governments, activists, NGOs and CSOs went in with many expectations. In this episode, Alex Taremwa and Edward Nimusiima discuss the gains and losses at what was billed as the African COP 27 and the opportunities that young Africans can capitalize on.  In the meantime, Last Drop Africa's #MyLastMealUG campaign closes on December 10. The duo disclosed how much has been collected and the next steps for Friends of Last Drop. 

On October 1, 2022, the Last Drop Africa launched My Last Meal - a food donation drive targeting to raise Ushs100m to provide relief food items and adaptive agricultural training for communities in the nine districts of Karamoja region.  In this episode, our Co-Founder, Alex Taremwa tells the story behind the campaign, explains the campaign name and details the campaign's sustainability plan. To support this campaign, use the following options: M-PESA, VISA, Mastercard: https://www.mchanga.africa/fundraiser/58099 MTN MoMoPay: Merchant Code: 650283 Airtel Money Pay: Merchant Code: 4297195

Creatives hold a large group of the mainstream media audience captive with their ideas, thoughts and feelings that immediately capture the hearts and attention of almost everyone that listens, watches or reads their content. On this episode we have a sit-down with ChrisOgon, a well known editorial cartoonist in Kampala-Uganda working with the Daily Monitor. We discuss his role and that of many other creatives in discussing Climate Change and making this topic come to life within their community and their audience. 

The Last Drop Africa Podcast is the first of the behavioural change communication solutions produced under the auspices of Green Journalism Africa (Ltd) to champion, sensitise, demonstrate and promote sustainable, scalable, and practical solutions through creative storytelling.  Our mission is simple; counter man-made destruction of our environmental ecosystem. Our goal is to teach Africa’s future generations to value and protect their planet.  © Green Journalism Africa (Ltd).