By Kabuye Ronald
Depletion of the Uganda’s largest tropical rain forest valuable tree species has come to light again following the heightened efforts by the environment activists under My Tree Initiative aiming at preserving and restoring the threatened nature.
The largest Uganda’s natural forest in Buikwe district was so much in the spotlight in April 2007 and subsequent years when a section of caring citizens including environmentalists decried deliberate encroachment upon its rich green catchment and destruction of its tree species for sugarcane growing, hence sparking off the public uproar in resistance.
Buikwe district woman member of parliament also the state minister for vice presidency Diana Mutasingwa revealed at the launch of the Schools Greening Program at Najjembe primary,Najjembe sub county, Lugazi municipality in Buikwe district on Tuesday that Mabira trees are being cut down again by the un known people before challenging the National Forestry Authority (NFA) to salvage the situation.
Minister Mutasingwa decried deforestation as a pressing issue that should urgently be addressed since its consequences have far reaching implications to the public health.
“We have a problem of people cutting down trees, it is so sad” Mutasingwa said.
The Schools Greening Program is an initiative by My Tree Initiative with its partners including among others, Absa Bank, UN agencies such as UN Women, Crown Beverages and Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) under which 300,000 trees will be planted in 300 selected schools in eastern region by December 2024.
Delivering the UN Women deputy country representative message Adekemi Ndieli at the same launch, Patricia Erotu in charge of the environment analysis commended the visionary efforts of tree planting by the environment advocates, saying the Schools Greening Program drive natures learners in climate conservation.
“At the UN, Women, we have an initiative on climate resilient agriculture which aims to empower women in local communities to ensure mitigation of climate change. UN Women is happy to work with you on this program”, the UN Women deputy country representative speech reads in part.
Hellen Nangonzi the Uganda’s Absa Bank director for marketing observed that by encouraging tree planting drives in schools they are instilling in learners the sense of responsibility to exercise the same and caring for them in future times.
The UPDF deputy chief of civil military colonel Sam Ntambirwe observed that tree planting and keeping environment green in aversion of climate change predicament is the force’s code of conduct before committing to support the drive.
Ashraf Ddumba the My Tree Initiative executive director explained that their ongoing Schools Greening Program drive was adopted to push for the considerable integration of environmental education in school’s curriculum to raise a generation of combatants against environmental degradation.
Ddumba added, through the same initiative more green clubs will be established in schools amongst learners’ communities on top of the 81 in place to enhance active youth participation in environmental advocacy and access to fruits and vegetables by 74%, since most of the planted trees therein are fruity.
He thanked Absa Bank upon powering their ongoing school environment initiative, emphasizing that they should be painted green.
