JoshuaVictor Semaganda

Documentary Photographer

The Uncelebrated Climate activists (Ongoing)

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Location: Kampala

Nationality: Ugandan

Biography: Joshua Victor Semaganda is a Documentary photographer and Visual artist based in Kampala, Uganda . He is a graduate with a Bachelors degree from the Margaret Trowel school of industrial and fine arts at Makerere University Kampala. He... MORE

Covid_19 was declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, by the World Health Organization. The global pandemic came along with the ability to grab the world’s attention an aspect that paved way for climate change activism to come on the rise now that natural disasters are one of the forefront topics of discussion.

Local roadside plant sellers based in Kampala and some of its neighboring areas in Uganda share their perspective on what climate change means to them alongside saving nature as a whole. Ideally the practice is one in which various local people dedicate their life to growing and looking after various plant types from which they earn a living in the long run. Consciously or unconsciously the practice plays a significant role towards protecting the environment. They are also potential agents to sensitize their fellow locals on the issue of climate change and hence a wider effective spread of information on the significance of nature conservation.

Photography as a medium from my own perspective acts as a bridge for the information gap in reference to climate change following the flexibility it often comes with. This being an ongoing personal project, it’s a two way learning process that is I get to create awareness amongst the road side plant sellers I come in contact with by means of imagery celebrating them and justifying the fact that they are unconsciously engaging into the fight against climate change and on the other hand getting to learn from them regarding what they do, why they do it and what does climate change mean to them.

Olishaba Moriios (30) , a resi...ver.” Says Olishaba.

Olishaba Moriios (30) , a resident from busaabala working from munyonyo along the Entebbe express highway stands next to a hanged up plant collection part of her display area . “I engage in the practice for leisure however, it makes me feel good in that taking care of nature is a stress reliever.” Says Olishaba.

The polythens in which the plan...y do not get spoilt very fast .

The polythens in which the plants are placed ,are collected from various areas such as rubbish pits and with an intention of trying to keep them in a state through which they do not get spoilt very fast .

Due to a challenge of the bad w...eps the plants in proper shape.

Due to a challenge of the bad weather characterised by a lot of sunshine that greatly affects his plants regular watering is one way Musisi keeps the plants in proper shape.

Kityaba Simon (37), a plant sel...omote saving nature.”

Kityaba Simon (37), a plant seller working along Lubiri ring road in Kampala city. He has spent 2 years so far while engaging in the practice. He adds on that ,”Through our job , we promote saving nature.”

Improperly disposed polythene ...hence more plastic less green.

Improperly disposed polythene and plastics at a designated rubbish place found in Makerere University Kampala, Uganda. This facilitates the scarcity of the vegetation since it damages soil fertility hence more plastic less green.

An old metallic car body withi...on the immediate surroundings.

An old metallic car body within the city centre of Kampala harboring plant growth. This creates an impression of the need to work with nature as opposed to encroaching on it carelessly as it has the ability to find its own way regardless of the damages it may inflict on the immediate surroundings.

Musisi (28) sits on a ladder wi... plant  display area .

Musisi (28) sits on a ladder with in the interior of his main plant display area .

Mubiru Joseph a colleague to K...nts  grown.

Mubiru Joseph a colleague to Kityaba Simon also based along Lubiri ring road in Kampala city sets up soil in cut polythen bags so as to have more plants grown.

Musisi (28) a resident from bus... next to his main display area.

Musisi (28) a resident from busaabala working from munyonyo along the Entebbe express highway engaging in the plant growing practice standing next to his main display area.

Purchasing the plants, custome...plants into the direct ground.

Purchasing the plants, customers are often told not to keep the plants in the polythens as these do prevent the soil from getting fertile. They are therefore instructed to transfer the plants into the direct ground.