Following a successful 2019 Copa Coca-Cola grass root football tournament in May where St Mary’s SS, Kitende emerged champions for the 9th time after a 3-1 win over Jinja SS in the final, tournament sponsors Coca-Cola on Thursday rewarded the schools and students who collected the most plastic bottles as part of the Copa Coca-Cola recycle and win competition.
A total of 1,463 schools participated in the competition for a chance to get their school pitches refurbished by Coca-Cola as well as having hands at other prizes like goal posts, goal nets, footballs, smart phones, digital TV sets among others.
Kanyabwanga SS emerged Southern region champions and overall winners having collected 9100Kgs of plastic.
From the East, Kitimbwa Bright future SS in Kayunga prevailed with 4500Kgs while Buddo SS was the best in the central with 25000 Kgs. Teso integrated SS collected 1630Kgs to emerge Northern region winners.
Osward Byamugisha, a teacher at Kanyabwanga SS and Kenneth Akugizibwe, a student from Kasese SS, emerged overall best teacher and student respectively to win brand new laptop and schools fees respectively.
Livingstone Ssenabulye, the Buddo SS Director of studies (DOS), who was in charge of the plastic collection hailed Coca-Cola for the initiative.
“We are excelling in Music, dance and drama, academics and sports. When Coca-Cola launched this campaign that saves our environment, we encouraged our students and I am happy we came out winners in the central region,” noted Senabulya, who won a smart TV while his school won a set of jersey, two balls and pitch refurbishing worth Shs4.5m.
Sam Kangave, the manager plastic recycling industries, an initiative of Coca-Cola beverages Africa in Uganda, applauded the schools, teachers and student that participated in the campaign.
“Coca-Cola and all its bottling partners are leading the industry to help collect and recycle a bottle for everyone we sell by 2030. Currently, we are collecting 450 tonnes of plastic per month and equivalent of 66% of the plastic we push out,” noted Kangave.
According to Arthur Akwankwasa, the Coca-Cola Uganda Country Manager, the campaign has been an eye opener –affirming the fact that creating knowledge and awareness about waste and its management.
“As Coca-Cola, we will continue supporting recycling initiatives targeting both awareness and behavior change on plastic waste collection and disposal,” noted Akankwasa.
The winning school was awarded with a refurbished football pitch with standard playing ground, goal posts, nets and bleachers.
The second best school received goal posts, nets and balls while the third best received goal posts and nets.
The winning teacher received a 32 inch Hisense TV while the second and third best received brand new mobile phones.
The winning student received school fees scholarships for one term.
