My Tree Initiative Organization and Absa Bank Uganda have announced a partnership that will accelerate the planting of over 300,000 trees in 300 schools, and local communities across Eastern Uganda.
The ambitious initiative is under the theme “Sustainable Growing of 300,000 Trees in 300 Schools by 2025”, which is a Schools Greening Program aimed at combating climate change, promoting environmental education, and awareness, and creating greener campuses across school communities.
The project particularly targets areas in Eastern Uganda that have suffered adverse impacts of extreme weather events resulting in landslides, destruction of property, and loss of lives.
The program was officially launched at Najjembe Church of Uganda Primary School – Mabira, and it was graced by State Minister in the Office of the Vice President, Diana Mutasingwa who commended My Tree Initiative Organization and Absa Bank Uganda for their strengthened relationship and proactive approach to environmental conservation.
“This Schools Greening Program instills a sense of responsibility in students and aligns with our national goals for climate action as well as the Country’s vision 2040 recognises that addressing the challenges of climate change is key to enhancing sustainable economic and social development.”
Absa Bank Uganda, Marketing Director, Helen Nangonzi remarked that the bank has sustainability at the heart of its business strategy.
“By encouraging young people to plant trees, we are incorporating within them a culture of responsibility towards and care for the environment, which will reap tremendous benefits for their communities and the country as a whole,” Nangonzi said.
The My Tree Initiative Organization, Executive Director, Enjer Ashiraf thanked Absa Bank for the generous partnership and in supporting the organisation in planting trees in 460 schools across Uganda so far since 2022.
“The main aim of this Program is to integrate environmental education into the school curriculum, engage students in hands-on tree planting activities, improve students’ diet, and educate, empower and support the future generations to be champions of our planet,” Ashraf said.
The program follows the success of last year’s Schools Greening Program implemented by My Tree Initiative in partnership with Absa Bank Uganda, whose impact included a total of 165,382 trees planted in 160 primary and secondary schools across 5 districts. 81 green clubs were established in schools to encourage active youth participation and safeguard steady tree growth, resulting in the restoration of 3,569 acres and contributing to a 74% increase in students’ access to fruits and vegetables.
The initiative is also in response to Uganda’s depleting forest cover largely due to deforestation and forest degradation involving clearing parts of forests for cultivation purposes.
A report on the state of Uganda’s forestry authored by the Ministry of Water and Environment shows that Uganda’s forest cover 1990 and 2015 shrunk from 24% of the total land area in 1990 to 9% in 2015.
In terms of acreage, a total of 3.05 million hectares were lost in a span of 25 years. Out of this loss, about 2.2 million hectares were from the woodlands. The report also indicates that almost half of the unprotected forests have been cleared in just 25 years.