ICEA LION, KCB and My Tree Initiative partner to plant trees

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Tree planting has been pinpointed as one of the remaining few options to counter climate change. This prompted ICEA LION to partner with KCB Bank and My Tree Initiative to ensure that thousands of trees are planted in Uganda’s institutions of learning.

Under the initiative, about 2,400 trees are set to be planted across select Ugandan schools by the end of the year.

“So far, 60 trees have been planted at St Mark’s College Namagoma, 100 trees at City High School, and 400 trees at Mother Kevin Primary School,” reads part of a recently issued statement.

My Tree Initiative, a youth-founded non-profit dedicated to climate action and building greener communities, joined hands with its two partners in a tree planting activity held at Padre Pio Nursery and Primary School and Exodus College School in Wakiso.

During this activity, a total of 1,005 trees were planted across both schools. The day also included sessions on financial literacy and environmental stewardship to empower students with knowledge for both personal growth and sustainable living.

Daniel Kairu, the Head of Business Development and Marketing at ICEA LION General Insurance, noted that they are dedicated to building a greener Uganda.

“We have decided to plant trees with you, not just to give us clean air and a greener future, but also to remind you that, just like trees, your savings can grow when you nurture them,” he told the learners, adding that together with their partners, they want to see both the school environment and learners' dreams flourish.

Bagaine Musoke, the head of Retail at KCB Bank, emphasised tree planting as a symbol of long-term community investment.

“At KCB Bank, everything we do is about investing in our communities, whether through green energy, tree planting, or other initiatives that add value. Because when we nurture the environment, we nurture the future of our customers too,” she said.

Each student had the opportunity to plant and name a tree, leaving behind a personal symbol of commitment to a greener future and establishing themselves as ambassadors of their environment.

The activity underscores ICEA LION’s commitment to create lasting impact by protecting the environment while enriching the lives of communities across Uganda.

This is in response to Uganda’s forest cover, which continues to diminish every year. This is driven by population growth, rising demand for fuel, and agricultural expansion.

The consequences are dire, from climate change impacts such as global warming and biodiversity loss to disrupted water cycles and food insecurity.

A report by Global Forest Watch suggests that Uganda lost 1.16 million hectares of tree cover between 2001 and 2024, representing 15% of its 2000 tree cover.