Gulu, Uganda: In a bold effort to combat rampant deforestation and the growing threat of climate change, the Vision for Children Youth Forum has planted over 2,000 trees across the Acholi sub-region.
The initiative was launched during a high-level youth climate meeting at Gulu University on Tuesday, May 27, in conjunction with the Northern Region Youth Climate Council and the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) National Consultation.
The tree-planting exercise marks a pivotal moment in the region’s climate fight, led by an organization dedicated to sustainable development through advocacy, training, and empowering children, youth, and women.
Geoffrey Ochan, Director of the Vision for Children Youth Forum, underscored the mission’s urgency, noting that the initiative seeks to restore the region’s green cover, foster environmental sustainability, and rehabilitate ecosystems for the well-being of future generations.
“Our initiative is more than an environmental project; it’s a movement. A movement to reclaim our natural heritage, to protect our ecosystems, and to ensure that the beauty and bounty of the Acholi sub-region are preserved for future generations,” said Ochan.
He urged the youth to take active roles in environmental conservation through tree planting and awareness campaigns and called for partnerships with schools to incorporate tree-planting into the curriculum. Ochan proposed student competitions and school-led initiatives as ways to instill a culture of climate responsibility from an early age.
Lawmakers, Climate Leaders Demand Policy Action
Hon. Gilbert Olanya, MP for Amuru District, threw his weight behind the campaign and called for a government policy to halt deforestation in Northern Uganda. He highlighted the booming charcoal trade as a serious threat to environmental sustainability and urged the government to reduce the cost of gas to promote cleaner alternatives.
“Tree cutting has become a commercial activity, but it’s killing our region. The government must intervene with clear policies and economic incentives,” Olanya said.
Jemimah Kasibbo, Youth Climate Council Coordinator in Uganda, passionately appealed to political leaders to work hand-in-hand with young people to combat deforestation, emphasizing that empowering youth with advocacy tools, knowledge, and skills can build lasting climate solutions.
“As young people, we’re not just the leaders of tomorrow; we’re the changemakers of today,” Kasibbo declared. “We must create and support youth-led climate movements that can influence national and regional policy.”
She further pointed to the intersection of climate change and gender inequality, explaining how failed harvests, often driven by erratic weather, force many girls to drop out of school in agrarian communities, further worsening poverty and vulnerability.
Youth Voices Call for Funding and Climate Education
Dan Tumusabe, Guild Speaker at Gulu University, emphasized the environmental crisis as one of human survival and called on the government to invest in youth-led climate initiatives.
“Protecting the environment ensures the well-being of all living things, including humans. It impacts our access to clean air, food, and water, and shapes both our mental and physical health,” said Tumusabe.
He added that targeted funding for youth projects would allow the next generation to lead meaningfully in safeguarding the planet.
Sharon Adong, one of the forum participants, echoed calls for stronger multi-sector collaboration and urged that child-inclusive climate policies be developed to help Uganda access climate financing mechanisms on the global stage.
“We must educate our communities on the dangers of deforestation and develop actionable recommendations that integrate youth voices into policy,” Adong stated.
Recent data shows that Northern Uganda is losing over 50,000 hectares of forest annually—approximately 50,147 hectares per year—making it one of the hardest-hit regions by deforestation in the country. Climate advocates warn that unless reversed, the trend will continue to deepen the region’s vulnerability to floods, droughts, food insecurity, and displacement.
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