Laudato Si Voices | First Laudato Si Green Festival | Fort-Portal Diocese | /10/10/2026
At the recent Laudato Si’ Green Festival in Fort Portal Diocese, Laudato Si Club members of the Nyakasura School traveled in the foggy morning breeze of Mabare Caves and crossed the swamps, rivers, and other natural sites to connect with nature at Lake Saaka. They joined hundreds of other Laudato Youth in Laudato Si Clubs for the Laudato Si Green Festival Western Region, a faith-inspired environmental festival that promotes ecological action and climate education, instills hope through mentorship, and encourages young people to care for the environment.
The Western Region Laudato Si Green Festival was held at the “natural cathedral of Lake Saaka.” The event started with the Celebration of the Eucharist, surrounded by trees, plants, and water, turning the physical environment itself into a sacred space for prayer and ecological reflection, with the Rt. Rev. Robert Muhiirwa Akiiki, Bishop of Fort Portal Diocese, echoed this, highlighting the beauty of God’s handiwork inspired by St. Francis, which must lead young people to an ecological conversion that fights the throwaway culture and consumerism that are eating up our societies. He urged young people to embrace a spirit of detachment from material possessions, emphasizing that true happiness does not depend on what one owns. “This same ‘use and throw away’ logic generates so much waste, because of the disordered desire to consume more than what is really necessary.” Young people want to buy every new model of phone and technology; in the end, they can’t even use what they own while others go without. St. Francis is a good example of simplicity and detachment that we need to emulate, he said.
Pope Francis frequently described “throwaway culture” as a utilitarian mindset in which people, food, and the environment are treated as disposable commodities once they are no longer useful or convenient. The Festival, inspired youth to embrace their responsibility to care for creation, reflecting the teachings of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’. As the Church reminds us,
“The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, his boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: everything is, as it were, a caress of God.” (Laudato Si’, 84)
By stepping outside the school environment and gathering in a beautiful, well-preserved natural setting, the young people experienced the beauty of creation firsthand and deepened their understanding of the importance of environmental stewardship.
Inspired by African traditions of communal learning, storytelling, and shared wisdom, the festival created a joyful and enriching space for Laudato Youth to connect, learn, and celebrate together. Away from the noise and distractions of everyday life, they had the opportunity to learn from their peers, mentors, religious leaders, and elders, who shared valuable lessons on morality, environmental conservation, peace, and sustainable development.
More than just a festival, the Laudato Si’ Green Festival was a transformative experience that nurtured ecological awareness, strengthened community bonds, and empowered young people to become responsible stewards of our common home, committed to building a more peaceful, sustainable, and harmonious future.
