India, Uganda unite to green nation, fight plastic pollution

The Indian High Commission in Uganda has joined a major tree-planting campaign, reaffirming its commitment to environmental conservation and deeper cooperation with Uganda on climate action.

As environmental issues grow more urgent and the effects of climate change become harder to ignore, nations and communities alike are being called to act, and different stakeholders are already pooling efforts.

With rising temperatures and plastic-chocked waterways threatening both nature and livelihoods, nations are stepping up climate action. Uganda is no exception.

Speaking at the High Commission's premises in Kampala city on June 5, 2025, Indian High Commissioner to Uganda Upender Singh Rawat said the initiative is aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and deepening bilateral co-operation on climate action.

Rawat (C) with members of the Indian community during the celebrations of the World Environment Day at Indian High Commission premises Nakasero Kampala on 5 June 2025. (Credit: Ronnie Kijjambu)

“As we celebrate Environment Day, we want to make Uganda greener and more prosperous by putting environmental concerns at the centre of our actions,’’ he elaborated.

World Environment Day, which is celebrated every June 5, was established by the United Nations in 1972 with a principal platform for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect the environment.

The event was organised in partnership with Jito Uganda, the Indian Association of Uganda, the National Forestry Authority (NFA), DFCU Bank, Kansai Plascon, and other private sector actors.

Under the theme: Ending Plastic Pollution, the commissioner noted that it is everyone’s responsibility to protect Mother Earth, reduce harmful human activities, and plant trees to restore nature.

The symbolic planting included sandalwood trees, a rare and highly valued species not commonly found in Uganda and will later be relocated to designated forest areas managed by National Forestry Authority (NFA).

NFA director of plantation development Mwodi Martin Kegere commended the Indian community for their consistent support in forest restoration efforts, adding that the environment has become more hostile, and the only way to reverse that is by treating it well.

The acting chairperson of the Indian Association of Uganda, Paresh Mehta (left), the Indian High Commissioner to Uganda, Upender Singh Rawat (second left) and the section head of trade and business in dfcu Bank, Ramakrishnan Hariharan (third left) looks on as the members of the Indian community watering a tree during the celebrations of the World Environment Day at Indian High Commission premises Nakasero Kampala on 5 June 2025. (Credit: Ronnie Kijjambu)

"This collaboration has helped us restore large parts of Mabira. These trees absorb carbon, provide livelihoods, and can even be treated as a business venture,” he explained.

He noted that the planting of sandalwood, in particular, demonstrates a shift toward the commercial potential of conservation, given its high value in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Paresh Mehta, the acting chairperson of the Indian Association Uganda, said their efforts in tree planting date back several years.

“We have planted 7,200 trees in Mabira Forest over the last three years, and this year, we are targeting 10,000. We also commit to maintaining these trees for at least three years so they can grow sustainably,” he said.

Santosh Gumte, Managing Director of Kansai Plascon, said the company had committed to supporting the planting of thousands of trees this year as part of their environmental responsibility.

Similarly, Rama Krishnar, Secretary and Head of Trade and Business Services at DFCU Bank, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to environmental conservation.

“We shall always support such initiatives that contribute to the preservation and restoration of our environment,” he said.

 This year’s focus on plastic pollution calls for innovative solutions to reduce the growing threat of plastic waste to ecosystems and human health.