LUWEERO, UGANDA: Fairventures Worldwide together with Ndejje University on Tuesday, March 21 commemorated the International Day of Forests by planting trees on a 5-acre land allocated for forestry conservation in Kiyanda-Ndejje, Luweero district, Central Uganda.
On Tuesday as the whole world celebrated the Internation Day of Forests, a section of students from Ndejje and other institutions in Luweero District rallied the public on responsible livelihoods that value and protect the environment for better health.
Ms Patience Namara, the Country Director Fairventures Worldwide partnering with different institutions and the community to distribute free tree seedlings for planting reveals that tree planting should be encouraged at community level with the target of boosting tree planting.
“Fairventures Uganda has provided the 1,500 tree seedlings for planting at the Ndejje University land but we also encourage all Ugandans to commit to the tree planting campaign and embrace the culture of caring for the environment,” Namara said.
According to the MoU between Fairventures Worldwide and Ndejje University, a total of 2,000 tree seedlings were planted in the area covering over 5 acres of land.
Joyce Namayanja, a student at Ndejje High School in Luweero District believes that while tree cutting for charcoal may not be prohibited since charcoal is the main source of fuel for the urban population, mandatory tree planting should be enforced.
“Every family should be allocated some trees to plant to boost the tree and forest cover in the Country. The trees should be provided free of charge by the government to boost the planting,” Namayanja told this website in an interview.
Mr Deogratious Mijumbi, the Luweero District Forest Officer revealed that Government through the National Forestry Authority and its Partners are giving out the tree seedlings free of charge for purposes of planting to boost the environment.
“The forest trees distributed are in the category of fruit trees and the wood purpose trees that can be planted for both income and the purpose of boosting the environment. We have free tree seedlings distributed at Katuugo tree nursery beds in Nakasongola District for the greater Luweero areas,” Mr Mijumbi said.
On her part, Canon Prof Olivia Nassaka Banja the Ndejje University Vice Chancellor commended the move by partners to restore the forestry land and said that integrating the culture of tree planting at the community level and ensuring the rejuvenation of the wasted forest areas will boost the environment.
“We should endeavour to love nature and support the tree planting campaign for our own good. The 2023 International forestry day theme of ‘Forests and Health’ gives a clear background upon which humans can partner to ensure better health through promoting a good environment,” Canon Olivia Nassaka explained.
“We are all aware that the forests play a significant role in our lives. We cannot live without trees. This is the very reason why Ndejje University has dedicated more than 100 acres of land for tree planting,” she added.
Through partnership and community engagement, the National Forestry Authority (NFA) targets the restoration of at least 60 hectares of lost tree cover in the next five years.
The NFA Executive Director Mr Tom Okello Obong revealed that the past restoration initiatives have recently seen an increase in the forest cover from 9% of the total land cover in Uganda in 2025 to 13.4% in the 2019 National Biomass Report.
The collaboration between Fairventures Worldwide and Ndejje University is seen as an essential step towards developing and strengthening synergies in climate mitigation, forests, and tree management, particularly as an institution participating in forest and climate change-related activities.
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