Emulate Semakula

Sep 19, 2001

UPDF SOLDIERS under the command of Col Sula Semakula have planted 25,000 trees in Karamoja between February and August.

UPDF SOLDIERS under the command of Col Sula Semakula have planted 25,000 trees in Karamoja between February and August. Semakula’s troops have now been assigned to central region. He says that they want to continue tree planting in Buganda as the soldiers get bored if they are not fully occupied. Semakula undertook this project without any outside funding and has appealed to the Karimojong to take care of the trees after his departure. Semakula collected seeds locally and then planted neem, mahogany, mvule, mango, orange, umbrella, acacia and eucalyptus. This was a fantastic initiative by Semakula and his soldiers. It is the kind of project that will win the ‘hearts and minds’ of the local population. The Karimojong will see the army not just as a law enforcement agency but also as an agent of development. But this tree planting exercise was not just valuable as a political gesture. Uganda desperately needs to plant many more trees to compensate for its rapidly shrinking forest cover. Forest reserves, notably in Mbarara and Jinja, have been cut down indiscriminately while the delay in rural electrification means that a growing population is using more and more charcoal. Yet it is not difficult to plant new trees. Semakula did not have funds. He just had energy and commitment. He simply found local seeds and seedlings and planted them. In 10 years there will be mature eucalyptus and 30 years mature mahogany and mvule in these parts of Karamoja. This was truly developmental. Semakula has shown that it is easy to plant trees that will soon grow up to provide shade, fruit and firewood. Everyone should emulate Semakula and his soldiers. Ends

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