Although more than 70% of Uganda’s 4.9 million hectares of forest cover is mainly woodland grown on private lands, it is experiencing high rates of clearance for agriculture and charcoal production.

This is extremely unsustainable, especially in the age of global warming, and erratic weather patterns such as flush floods and droughts.

To this effect, NCBA under it’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) pillar has sealed a partnership with the National Forest Authority (NFA) to plant 20,400 trees in 2024 at Jubiya Forest Reserve in Masaka in a bid to restore the degraded parts of the forest.

Speaking during the signing at NCBA Bank Uganda offices in Kampala, Mark Muyobo, the Chief Executive Officer, noted that the bank’s dedication to sustainability extends beyond emissions reduction to include tree planting activities that deliver tangible and lasting benefits, such as carbon appropriation, employee engagement, and community empowerment.

“As NCBA Bank Uganda, we recognize the integral role of tree planting in addressing climate change and preserving natural ecosystems. Our tree-growing activities are characterized by tangible and lasting benefits, including carbon appropriation, employee engagement, and community empowerment,” Muyobo said.

According to NFA, Uganda has seen a significant loss in forest cover, with approximately 41.6% lost since 1900, primarily due to human and economic activities such as agriculture, wood fuel, and animal grazing.

Uganda’s forest cover has in the last 25 years seen a severe decrease in forest cover from 4.9 million ha (24%) to 2.5 million ha (12.4%) (NFA, 2018). This corresponds to an annual average forest cover loss of 122,000 ha or 2% of which 65% percent of this loss occurs on private land (NFA, 2018).

This justifies the Ministry of Water and Environments’ decision to embark on a nation-wide tree planting campaign dubbed “Running Out of Trees, (ROOTs)” whose key highlight is an annual National Tree Planting Day where 40 million trees will be planted and nurtured by the 40 million Ugandans.

“As a ministry, we are focusing on planting mainly indigenous and fruit trees in most of the affected areas across the country. We need to mitigate any possible danger that could arise. The program is specifically intended to promote forest protection, tree growing, reforestation and afforestation across the different landscapes,” Issa Katwesige, Assistant Commissioner Planning and the ROOTs Coordinator at the Ministry of Water and Environment.

The Campaign is premised on Uganda’s 2016 pledge to the Bonn Challenge based on the Restoration Opportunities Assessment to restore 2.5million hectares of degraded forest landscapes by 2030

Tom Obong Okello, the executive director of the National Forestry Authority (NFA) warned that tougher times await the country if we do not embark on restoring degraded landscape.

“We have all witnessed landslides and recent floods across the country. This has not been usual and the pressures will continue mounting if we do not intervene now. As NFA we intend to restore 2bn hectares of degraded landscape and we want to commend NCBA Bank for joining the drive,” Tom Obong Okello noted.

Since 1900, Uganda has lost about 41.6% of its forest cover, due to human/ economic activities, such as agriculture, wood fuel and animal grazing among others.

About 88% of Ugandans still use wood fuel for cooking, which exerts a lot of pressure on forests, which are the raw materials for wood fuel or charcoal.

NCBA, NFA sign partnership to plant 20,400 trees in 2024

“As NCBA Bank Uganda, we recognize the integral role of tree planting in addressing climate change and preserving natural ecosystems," said Muyobo.

A team from NCBA and NFA in a group photo after signing a partnership to plant 20,400 trees in 2024. Courtesy photo

Simon Okitela

Journalist @New Vision