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OPINION

By Onesmus Kansiime

“Plant a tree before I wed you,” every religious leader should say to the two in love intending to marry.

Every wedding carries a promise of new beginnings. For those getting married on any particular day, the sun rises differently over the horizon and the breeze is gentler.

It is a day filled with the anticipation of a future shared with someone special. For many couples, this day marks the beginning of a lifelong journey together, a journey that holds within it the potential to create a world of beauty and harmony.

But as they cross from one chapter of their lives to another, they need to be invited to pause and reflect on a simple, but yet important gesture that can transform not only on their relationship, but also on the world around them. Let us invite them to plant a tree. You may wonder, why a tree?

What significance does it hold in the context of marriage and the preservation of our environment?

I know of a story — a story of love, of commitment and of the interconnectedness between humanity and the natural world. In a small village lived a young couple deeply in love. As they prepared for marriage, they couldn’t ignore the environmental challenges around them — the long miles to the nearest water sources and the worsening air quality. Motivated by their love and a shared concern, they decided that they would change the environment around them, an environment in which their children and the generations after them would grow in. It was a simple, but yet powerful decision — to plant a tree together before their wedding.

The Friday morning, a day before their wedding, armed with shovels and determination, they headed to the edge of their blank brown land. Isn’t it great? To dig the earth and plant the sapling not only for you and your partner, but also for your shared generations to come. They realised that planting a tree wasn’t just about beautifying the landscape; it was about laying the groundwork for a sustainable future.

A year later, they celebrated their first wedding anniversary under the shade of that tree, standing under the tree’s shade. They enjoyed a romantic picnic together, reminiscing about their journey and the growth symbolised by the tree, followed by exchanging love beneath its branches, reaffirming their commitment to each other and their shared future.

They pledged to nurture its growth and pass on their love for nature to their children and grandchildren. Every anniversary, the couple did not plant just one tree, but 150 trees. They have been married for 34 years now.

The blank brown land they started their love journey on is now beautifully nestled among green hills. Imagine if we all did this, just 10% of it, no levels of green loss would match the speed of green recovery.

This story, dear friends, is not just a tale of romance; it is a testament to the power of love and the potential for change that lies within each one of us.

By planting a tree before you wed, you are not only honouring the sacred bond of marriage, but also taking a tangible step towards preserving and protecting the environment for future generations. But the journey does not end there.

As you embark on the adventure of marriage, remember that every action you take has the power to shape the world around you. From the food you eat to the products you buy, from the energy you consume to the waste you generate, each choice you make has an impact on the health of our planet. As a family, you have the opportunity to be a strong unit in the preservation and protection of the environment.

By instilling in your children, a love and respect for nature, by teaching them the importance of conservation and sustainability, you are nurturing the seeds of change that will bear fruit for generations to come. And so, I invite you to join this journey of transformation. Every church should allocate land for couples who do not have land of their own to plant a tree before they are wedded. It is a small yet meaningful gesture — a symbol of their commitment to each other and to the world around them.

The religious institutions are the second biggest owners of land in the country. A big proportion of this land is vacant. Just imagine every couple wedded plants at least one tree. Uganda will be greener.

On your wedding day, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the love of family and friends, take a moment to pause and reflect on the significance of this act.

Pledge to honour and cherish not only each other, but also the precious gift of life that surrounds you. For in the end, it is not just about the tree you plant or the vows you exchange; it is about the footprint you imprint upon the earth, and the love you nurture in the hearts of those you touch.

“Plant a tree before I wed you,” every religious leader should say to the two in love intending to marry.

The writer is a senior officer knowledge management and communications at the National SDG Secretariat, Office of the Prime Minister