In Uganda's Buganda Kingdom, clan identity is closely linked to nature. At Gombe Junior School in Kampala, pupils get to learn about their traditional totems — animals or plants that clan members are expected to protect. We meet Gift, who belongs to the Nseenene, or Grasshopper, clan, and Isaiah, whose Kobe clan is represented by the air potato. The tradition dates back centuries and is now celebrated through sculptures along Kampala’s Royal Mile. But these symbols serve an environmental purpose, too: many totem species face threats from habitat loss and poaching. Teachers and clan leaders hope the tradition will inspire young people to become conservationists. Isaiah is already doing his part, growing air potatoes in his family garden.