Shea tree conservation tournament kicks off in Yumbe
He highlighted that eligible players must belong to the 4th division or lower, providing young talents with an opportunity to showcase their skills.
Yumbe: The third edition of the Shea Nut Tree Conservation Tournament commenced on Tuesday, December 10, 2024.
Organized by Shea Nut and Natural Oils Conservation Limited, the tournament aims to raise awareness about conserving Shea nut trees, which are being depleted by communities for charcoal production, leading to widespread environmental degradation.
Speaking at the tournament’s opening in Midigo Town Council, Yumbe District, Miraj Osman, the tournament chairperson, announced that this year’s edition will feature 13 teams, an increase from the 11 teams that participated last year.
The second edition of the tournament included teams from Moyo, Koboko, and Yumbe districts, such as Midigo Town Council, Arilo Sub-County, Kei Sub-County, Lobe Town Council, Kerwa Sub-County, Wandi Sub-County, Lefori Sub-County, and Goboro Parish areas where Shea nut trees are most abundant.
This year, two additional teams have joined the lineup: Future Project from Muni University in Moyo District and a team from Chakulia in Ludaara Sub-County, Koboko District. The tournament also welcomes Odravu West from Yumbe District. Participating teams will camp at Midigo Secondary School for the duration of the tournament.
Miraj Osman highlighted that eligible players must belong to the 4th division or lower, providing young talents with an opportunity to showcase their skills. Last year’s champions, Lobule Town Council, defeated Arilo Sub-County by a single goal, while Midigo Town Council secured third place. The opening match of this year’s tournament pits Goboro Sub-County against Wandi Sub-County.
Imran Ejotre, CEO of Shea Nut and Natural Oils Conservation Limited, emphasized that the youth are the primary contributors to the destruction of Shea nut trees, as they frequently engage in cutting trees for charcoal.
The football tournament serves as a powerful tool for sensitizing the community about the importance of conserving Shea nut trees to sustain raw materials for producing nilotica Shea butter.
Ejotre urged the community to take ownership of preserving their natural environment, warning that no external party will take responsibility for local conservation efforts.
Hakim Sijali, the conservation officer for Shea Nut Oils, added that the tournament highlights the critical role Shea nut trees play in combating climate change.
The winning team will receive a trophy and a cash prize of UGX 1,000,000, while the first and second runners-up will take home UGX 400,000 and UGX 250,000, respectively. Individual prizes will also be awarded for outstanding performances.
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