Mukono diocese in conjunction with Sinza Hope Givers has launched a drive through which 50,000 fruit tree seedlings will be planted in the four districts of Mukono, Buikwe, Kayunga and Buvuma.

Bp. Enos Kitto Kagodo, the Bishop of Mukono has launched the program at the diocesan headquarters in Mukono Municipality.

Bp. Kagodo says the drive is intended to restore the environment which has been deprived of most of the natural forests and wetlands to pave way for the construction of factories, residential and commercial buildings.

“We selected fruit trees which also cater for the nutrition. We intend to have these trees planted on schools, churches and some health units,” he highlighted.

The Bishop of Mukono, Enos Kitto Kagodo planting a mango tree seedling as he launched the drive to have 50,000 fruit trees planted all-over the diocese. (Photo by Henry Nsubuga)

The bishop said instead of keeping the church land idle which have of recent been attracting encroachment the fruit tree campaign will cover all the land under threat.

Bp. Jackson Matovu, the retired bishop of Central Buganda diocese planting a jackfruit tree during the launch of 50,000 trees in Mukono diocese. (Photos by Henry Nsubuga)

For some institutions like schools that are lacking space, Kagodo said they are to plant the trees on their land boundaries.

Bp. Jackson Matovu, the retired bishop for Central Buganda hailed the initiative which he described as timely.

“I am a born of Mukono district, during my childhood, we had a lot of forests which are no more. Unfortunately, the people cutting down the forests are also not sparing the fruit trees, something which is making their activities so dangerous,” Bp. Matovu says.

The retired bishop also lamented that Kampala is always flooding because the rivers, streams and flood water ways are blocked because of greed.

“Unfortunately, the flooding is also taking on the outskirts of Kampala like Mukono in Namanve on Kampala-Jinja highway, in Mukono town, Lwera on Masaka road and some parts of Wakiso district. It's high time we woke up and fight for nature before it fights for itself which will end up taking some of our lives,” he said.

The Sinza Hope Givers director, Cuthbert Waira says apart from planting the trees, they are going to teach the Christians in church, the pupils and teachers in schools the advantages of planting the trees.

“We shall also highlight them on a number of disadvantages of deforestation. We also intend to start environment clubs in schools and we shall boost those that are already in existence,” Waira said.

He added that the call for the restoration of the environment through tree planting has for over a time been highlighted by the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi and of late, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu.

Waira said so far, over 4000 trees have already been planted as they are targeting the rainy season.