THE Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL), in partnership with residents of Namabu parish in Mukono district, has planted 150 acres of trees on the shores Lake Victoria.
The project is aimed at protecting the environment around the lake and empowering the residents to improve their household income through timber and wood production.
Musa Mukulu, an electrical engineer, said the project was started to mitigate the impact of environmental destruction caused by the construction of the Kiira power dam that was commissioned in 2002.
Mukulu said the company was committed to supplying more seedlings. He made the remarks during a training workshop for members of the environmental conservation and agriculture tree planting initiative association and UEGCL, on Thursday.
He said landlords were given free seedlings. The company spends about sh20m annually on training and provision of other services in the area. “Our target was getting over 1,000 acres of land around this area planted with trees. We need more people to come on board,†he said while touring the mother garden in Busegerera.
The garden, which is owned by William Bajja, a farmer, has over 40 acres of pine trees, 30 acres of eucalyptus and 20 acres of Musizi trees. Moses Balimunsi, a forest officer from Mukono, asked the farmers to take good care of their trees like other crops.
“Trees need care and protection from animals and insects that may cause damage. Seek guidance from experts so that the trees get proper spacing and pruning at the right time,†he advised
The Rt. Rev. Fr. Henry Jude Mbaziira, the chairperson of the conservation association, commended UEGCL for the initiative.
Mukono plants more trees
