Uganda Laudato Si’ Consortium a new dawn to Unite for climate action – “Everything is connected” Celebrating 10 Years of Laudato Si’ – Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Munyonyo. On May 16, 2025, at the sacred grounds of the Uganda Martyrs Shrine in Munyonyo, youth leaders, faith communities, and environmental enthusiastic organisations gathered to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical, Laudato Si’. This powerful two-day encounter was more than a celebration — it was the birth of a bold, united initiative to care for our common home.
The highlight of the gathering was the formation of the Uganda Laudato Si’ Consortium — a historic network of 17 faith-based and civil society organizations working together for ecological justice. At the heart of this new alliance is the Laudato Youth Initiative, a vibrant initiative of young Catholics committed to uniting climate action and ecological conversion. This was a dream come true said the Laudato Youth Initiative Director Mr. Benard Kahwa “at the heart of the Laudato Youth are the concepts; Faith and Ecology, Unity and Action – Eco-Spiritual Action in Uganda affirms the fact that Everything is connected.” – Laudato Si’ and we need to connect and unite if our impact is to broaden”.
What is Laudato Si’?
Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’ — “Praise be to you” — calls all people of goodwill to an ecological conversion rooted in faith, justice, and care for creation. Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, the document speaks powerfully to our interconnectedness and the urgent need to protect both people and the planet. As Fr. Ambrose Bwangatto shared during the opening reflection, Laudato Si’ challenges the distorted interpretation of “dominion” over the earth and instead calls for stewardship, humility, and healing.
Formation of the Uganda Laudato Si’ Consortium
Seventeen organizations came together during this encounter to form the Uganda Laudato Si’ Consortium, including: Seventeen organizations joined together to form the Uganda Laudato Si’ Consortium, a collaborative network united in their commitment to fight climate injustice, promote environmental sustainability, and respond boldly to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. This historic union includes:
1.Kampala Archdiocese
2.Association of Religious in Uganda (ARU)
3.John Paul Justice and Peace Centre (JPIIJPC)
4.Laudato Youth Initiative (LYI)
5.CARITAS Kampala
6.Laudato Si Centre Comboni
7.Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability Africa (CYNESA)
8.Medical Mission Sisters (MMS)
9.Laudato Si’ Movement (LSM)
10.Franciscan Family
11.Centre for Citizens Conserving the Environment
12.Climate Justice Africa
13.Katanga Ghetto Development Link
14.Eco Brix
15.Bakhita Anti-Human Trafficking Network
16.Radio Maria Uganda
17.The Unlimited Youths (TUY)
Their first resolution? A pledge to say no to disposable plastic bottles — starting with their own events. Members now bring personal water containers and call on all Ugandans to support a plastic-free future.
Laudato Youth: Leading the Way
For the Laudato Youth Initiative, this is more than an initiative — it’s a mission. Young Ugandans are already feeling the impacts of climate change. Now, they are rising as leaders and innovators, inspired by both the Gospel and science to defend their communities and ecosystems.
What Laudato Youth are were at the event and showcased an eco exhibition but they are also:
- Planting trees and restoring degraded land
- Lead community clean-ups, recycling efforts, and innovations.
- Promote sustainable agriculture and agroecology, inspired by saints like St. Adolphus Mukasa Ludigo.
- Build bridges between faith and science, spirituality and sustainability.
- Building networks of young eco-ambassadors across Uganda and beyond
Inspired by St. Adolphus Mukasa Ludigo — the “St. Francis of Africa” and patron of farmers and herdsmen — Laudato Youth sees creation care as a form of martyrdom and mission in the modern age that requires the courage of Martyrs to overcome
Why This Matters
As Pope Francis reminds us, “Everything is connected.” The ecological crisis is not just about the environment; it’s a spiritual, social, and moral issue. This Consortium and the youth at its core are embracing the call to:
✅ Live simply
✅ Act boldly
✅ Love and care for humanity
✅ Protect creation
The Road Ahead
This encounter closed not with an ending, but with a beginning. A renewed call was issued to:
- Continue regular dialogue
- Build community-led climate solutions
- Saying no to plastics as a major stand
A New Dawn for Uganda’s Ecological Mission
With the Uganda Laudato Si’ Consortium now formed, and the Laudato Youth Initiative firmly at its heart, the seeds of hope have been planted. Now it is time to nurture them — with faith, action, and unity. “Let us go forth as stewards of creation, change-makers in our local communities, and guardians of justice for future generations.”
Laudato Youth Initiative Activities of the day
Celebrating 10 years of Laudato Si Raising hope for climate justice
A call to ecological conversion giving birth to the Rise of Uganda’s Ecological Faith Consortium
Climate change impacts poorest and requires global cooperation
Pope Francis himself said, “The poor and the earth are crying out”; it is time for us all to do something about it. Celebrating 10 years of Laudato Si Raising hope for climate justice is A call to ecological conversion and a need to care for the poor Climate change is ‘undeniable’
Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, emphasized humanity’s vocation to care for the environment. “The world is not an accident but an intentional act of God” and everyone is called to be a “co-creator.”
How to face the future
We know many organizations are working to implement the principles of Laudato si’ to support the most vulnerable amid the climate crisis but need to be careful that the needs of the youth, women and those affected most by the effects are priotised. We also need to reflect on the reality that many of the worlds pressing challenges of peace are related to the environment and natural resources we need to pray for peace but also act on empowering communities to leave peacefully and learn to share nature’s resources as gift to be shared by all.
Pope Leo XIV has always stressed that the Catholic Church’s involvement in the climate fight should based on the Social Doctrine of the Church, a fundamental framework of social teachings. Humans must engage in a “relationship of reciprocity” with the environmental, rather than “tyrannical,”.
With his new role as Pope, we see the legacy left by Pope Francis, whom Leo served as a senior adviser continue to shape the church’s view on the environment and matters of justice and peace. Pope Leo XIV’s first speech: that began with a phrase! ‘Peace be with you’ … talked about Pope Francis as;
“The pope who blessed Rome gave his blessing to the world, to the entire world, that Easter morning. Allow me to follow up on that same blessing: God cares for us, God loves all of us, and evil will not prevail! We are all in God’s hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and among ourselves, let us move forward. We are disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge to reach God and His love. Help us too, then help each other to build bridges – with dialogue, with encounter, uniting all of us to be one people always in peace. Thank you, Pope Francis!” Our thank you Pope Francis is upholding his legacy.
Uphold Pope Francis’ Legacy as Stewards of the Future.Ten years ago (2015 – 2025), Pope Francis penned Laudato Si’, a revolutionary encyclical that called upon the world to care for our common home. A decade later now, its message is more urgent and more alive than ever before. With the death of Pope Francis it is now a legacy for us to carry on to foster transformation. Nowhere was this more evident than at the Uganda Martyrs Shrine in Munyonyo, where faith leaders, youth, and environmental advocates gathered today, May 15, to mark the 10th Anniversary of Laudato Si’ in a powerful two-day encounter.
In a stirring presentation, Sarah Kirikumwino, President of the Laudato Si Clubs, emphasized how Pope Francis has not only left behind a powerful ecological document but has birthed our strong youth Initiative that has taken root in Uganda, now in Kenya and Tanzania through youth-led tree planting, eco- innovative science innovations, Mental Health Programs, Ecological Education, waste management solutions, media and advocacy, institutional and cooperate climate initiatives etc
Our Laudato Si Clubs President visually amplifying voices for the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’ is a significant event where she leads young people to recommit in caring for creation.The Martyrs’ Spirit in our Ecological Mission
Hosting this celebration at the Uganda Martyrs Shrine was no coincidence. It underscored a powerful spiritual lineage: just as the Martyrs stood firm in faith, today as Laudato Youth, we stand firm in defending and caring for creation. Their message for Climate action was not just a mere say but practical. They respected animals and plants in the form of totems and used them as their symbols of respect, like St. Adolf were great farmers and cared for animals, and today he is a patron of farmers and herdsmen. This was not a political agenda, it was a moral and spiritual imperative. We take the line of interpreting Laudato Si from a spiritual and moral stance inspired by this value, but most importantly, God who is the creator.
Earlier this year, our story inspired global attention when our story was featured by Vatican Media three consecutive weeks to inspire the universal church on how we leave the values of Laudato Si, where reflections were shared on how our climate Justice, environment and mental health programs and the story of the Martyrs continues to shape the country’s environmental path. From mountains to families to communities, Schools to Universities, Institutions to Corporate organisations, we are amplifying voices for Laudato Si’ to be lived out through grassroots action inspired by Uganda’s rich spiritual, cultural heritage, inspired by our enthusiastic majority youth population of Uganda.
Sustainable living involves understanding how lifestyle choices impact the world and finding ways to live better and lighter.The Spirit of Munyonyo: Faith Meets Ecology
Munyonyo, a sacred site where the story of Uganda’s faith and sacrifice is enshrined, served as the perfect backdrop to launch the Laudato Si’ Encounter. Led by the Archdiocese of Kampala and organized in partnership with key stakeholders such as the Association of Religious in Uganda (ARU), the Laudato Si Centre Comboni, the John Paul I Justice and Peace Centre, and the Laudato Youth Initiative, among many others this event was not only a commemoration but a recommitment.
The gathering echoed Pope Francis’ urgent plea in Laudato Si’, “Interdependence obliges us to think of one world with a common plan” (LS 164). And this common plan was alive in Munyonyo—through prayer, dialogue, and action.
Pope Francis’ Green Pilgrims: Building on a Decade of Impact
Under our theme, Legacy of Pope Francis as Pilgrims of Green Hope, the day’s discussions reminded us that this is not a passing trend, it’s a growing Initiative. Laudato Si Clubs President Sarah Kirikumwino energized the audience with her powerful reflection on justice and peace as moral responses to climate challenges.
Tomorrow, our Laudato Si Club of Holy Cross Lake View S.S.S. is looking forward to showcasing how tree-planting campaigns, climate marches, and parish-based advocacy programs have become everyday acts of ecological discipleship. The message was clear: Uganda’s youth are not waiting for change; they are leading it.
As we celebrate Pope Francis’ transformative legacy, we are reminded that the Catholic tradition has long recognized the sacred responsibility of stewardship. This prophetic insight supports and strengthens the message of Laudato Si’, reminding us that justice and creation care have always gone hand in hand.
Laudato Youth Initiative Director Mr. Benard Kahwa at the Laudato Si 10th Anniversary CelebrationsLaudato Si’ in Uganda: A Global Voice with Local Impact
Earlier this year, Uganda’s voice reached the Vatican Media, sharing how the story of the Uganda Martyrs has shaped the country’s deep and growing commitment to Laudato Si’. Faith communities are transforming the spiritual into the practical, mitigating climate change, protecting biodiversity, and building climate-resilient parishes.
Our motto, “United for Climate Action,” captures this moment perfectly. We are not just marking a decade. We are multiplying impact. Uganda is quickly becoming a beacon of ecological faithfulness in Africa, and through this encounter, we aim to inspire even more participation across the globe.
Mr. Augustine Bahemuka, Research Lead – Laudato Youth Initiative, serving as the moderator of the day.United for Climate Action: What’s Next?
The day’s events, prayers, presentations, and panel discussions culminated in a powerful call to form a united faith-based environmental consortium in Uganda. This aligns with the motto powering this initiative: United for Climate Action. From youth leaders to religious congregations, the message was clear: now is the time to move from reflection to transformation.
As we concluded Day One of the Laudato Si’ Encounter, the atmosphere was filled with reflection and resolve. This is more than a celebration, it’s a call to action. We are forming a generation of Laudato Youth, future stewards committed to protecting God’s creation and ensuring that the legacy of Pope Francis continues to thrive.
Pope Francis himself said, “The poor and the earth are crying out”; it is time for us all to do something about it.The story of Laudato Si’ is still being written, and Uganda is helping write its next chapter. Will you be part of it?
As we move into Day Two of Encounter, may the passion and energy that filled Munyonyo inspire us with renewed energy and hope with a promise that this is not just a celebration and its end, but the beginning of a new chapter. One in which Uganda continues to stand as a national voice for climate justice, rooted in faith, inspired by the Martyrs, and led by the enduring legacy of Pope Francis. Our upcoming events and activities of May 16th events will elaborate our commitment in action, as we come together to care for our common home. Join the mission. Embrace the legacy. Be a pilgrim of Green Hope this Jubilee Year of the Church.
Sarah for Laudato
