Kira municipality embraces tree planting campaign

 

WAKISO-In an effort to save the environment and herbal medicines, trees, Kira division Wakiso district recently embarked on a medicinal tree planting exercise which will see the revamp of the trees that are cut.

 

This comes at a time when government and other stakeholders are encouraging communities to plant trees in order to curb the effects of climate change.

 

During the exercise which was carried out at Kitukutwe Primary School Kira, the Deputy Mayor of Kira Town Council, Godfrey Nsubuga, revealed to the communities that Kira council is in the process of formulating bylaws which will penalize anybody whose animals are found eating trees.

 

Nsubuga said for trees which are costly if anybody's goat or cow eats the seedlings the owner of the animal will be charged and will be told to pay for 15 trees to the family that has lost the tree.

 

Speaking to the communities from Kira, Bulindo, Kimwani, Nsasaya, and Kireka, Nsubuga warned communities against cutting trees saying that many disasters have come as a result of tree cutting.

 

He said, "You do not need many acres of land to plant trees, even in your small back yard you can plant trees. We all need a fruit tree, medicinal tree among other trees planted in our homes."  

 

The tree planting exercise which was carried out in partnership with the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda(PSU), is intended to encourage residents plant trees which will not only provide shade and fruits but trees that are of herbal importance.

 

The President of the PSU Patrick Owang said they have embarked on the exercise of planting trees for medicinal use to help curb some diseases.

 

The Prunus Africana commonly known as Ngwabuzito or Ntasesa in Luganda is said to be sold outside Uganda and its dried bark is exported to France to make a drug called Tadenan which treats Prostate cancer among men.

 

Owang explained that the launch of the medicinal tree was after the pharmacist discovered from their research and confirmed the benefits of the tree.

 

"We want to equip the communities with knowledge so that they know that the tree is of medical importance," Owang said. He added that PSU intends to secure land in order to construct a laboratory to process medicines out of the medical tree.

 

The Kyaddondo County Chief Patrick Luwaga, who represented Robert Wagwa Nsibirwa, the second Deputy Katikiro said the launch of tree planting is timely, adding that Kabaka Ronald Mwenda Mutebi has always encouraged his subjects to plant trees.

 

He told the communities that disasters which are happening in Bududa are coming up as a result of cutting down trees. "We are doing a disservice to ourselves by cutting trees and failing to replace them," he said.

 

"Trees have an impact on everybody's life. We need to have fresh air that we breathe. "  

 

 

The LC1 for Kitukutwe, Fred Mukasa said that the communities not only need trees for fruits but they also need medicinal trees.

 

The chairman Kira division Papharas Mugoha said the move comes at a right time when the communities need to know the importance of medicinal trees.

 

The Kira Town Council Agricultural Officer, Zachary Muwanga explains that although several people have been planting trees, they do not know the medicinal aspect of the trees.

 

The division was given 1,500 trees which were distributed to schools, churches, district offices and to community members.