His legacy stands tall and poud on many roadsides in Mbale

 To mark 50 years of Uganda’s independence, New Vision will until October 9, 2012 be publishing highlights of events and profiling personalities who have shaped the history of this country. Today, GERALD TENYWA brings you the story of Semei Kakungulu, the tree lover

When Semei Kakungulu, a warrior and tribal leader died, a part of Uganda’s history also died. Though he was sent to eastern Uganda by the colonialists as an administrator, he is more remembered for the millions of Mvule trees that were planted during his time. A century after they were planted, Kakungulu’s trees still stand along the roadside, like soldiers mounting a guard of honour for passersby. This landmark is still a stunner, especially for the first-time travellers to eastern Uganda who keep on inquiring, “Who planted these trees?”

“This man Kakungulu was a visionary,” says Dr. Aryamanya Mugisha, the former executive director at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).  Mugisha points out that planting trees at that time demanded a leader with vision because the country still had many trees. Mugisha says attempts to mobilise people to plant as many trees as those Kakungulu planted have failed. He adds that people refresh with drinks to celebrate planting of ceremonial trees, which never survive.

A decade ago, Kakungulu won the hearts of the environmentalists at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), which is the Government watchdog on environment.

NEMA awarded him posthumously for his role in preserving the environment. His grandson, Shanon Kakungulu, a former legislator in Masaka, received the award. According to Martin Rutangye who spearheaded the NEMA initiative to award Kakungulu, Kakungulu is the great grandfather of tree planting campaigns in Uganda. 

Why did Kakungulu compel people to plant trees? 
Given that the seeds of Mvule trees are so tiny and not easy to grow, Dr. Gerald Eilu of Makerere University’s faculty of nature conservation says Kakungulu’s contribution was outstanding. Also, the seedlings of Mvule are often attacked by diseases that compromise the ability of the tree to regenerate.

He agrees with Mugisha saying the population was still small and that Kakungulu was mindful of the future and loved the beauty of nature. Eilu singles out the avenue trees along Budaka and Mbale highway saying that this kind of planting comes from the heart and that Kakungulu is a man who was in love with trees.  Other sources say he planted trees to show power and occupation. The trees, according to the source were a way of saying, “We have taken over” or we are in control over this expansive territory east of the Nile.

Leaders should pick a leaf Current leaders should learn from Kakungulu and could use a range of incentives to entice the public into tree planting. Kakungulu used coercive means to get the trees planted, by forcing the masses to grow the trees. According to Eilu, Kakungulu offers many lessons to the leaders.

“The current generation should learn that you can achieve a lot even without much money. Today, a lot more money is used, but you never see the trees.” “It is not only about today that we should be thinking about. Everything, and particularly nature, should be looked at in the long term,” says Eilu.  Others who plant trees go for exotic ones such as pines and eucalyptus, but Kakungulu stood by the native trees, which richly support a lot more animals and birds, according to Eilu. “The love for nature should not be in words alone but should be accompanied by actions,” says Eilu.

Desecration of Kakungulu’s legacy
Following in the footsteps of Kakungulu, Paul Mwambu of the United Nations Development Programme who is also an environment officer for Mbale, about a decade ago, says he attempted to mobilise the communities through sub-county environmental committees to plant trees but failed.

“Rumours that the land where trees were being planted was going to be taken away from the owners discouraged people from planting Mvule. Even the few that had been planted were uprooted,” says Mwambu.  He added, “Kakungulu’s trees are going to be depleted. Instead of protecting the trees and planting more, people are even cutting down everything called a tree regardless of who planted it.”

Mbale District Council had recognised Kakungulu as a great environmentalist and resolved to protect the trees he left behind, according to Mwambu. Because of population pressure, encroachment is gathering pace because there is growing need for timber, firewood and charcoal. The most affected trees, Mwambu points out, are those planted around administrative centres and those along the roads; they are also being cut down particularly during weekends or holidays.

“People cut down these trees and take away the logs. They convert the logs into timber from elsewhere.” He added, “Planting trees is one of the most fulfilling legacies, but mobilising the masses to plant trees or to protect them is difficult. Everybody thinks he is a leader and the respect and power that parish chiefs or sub county chiefs once wielded has been eroded in the last two decades.”

Kakungulu’s life
Born in 1868 in Kooki in Rakai, Kakungulu rose to the King’s court because of his intelligence and obedience. During his term in eastern Uganda, he became the king of Bukedi. Later, he was transferred to Busoga where he established himself as the King of the semi-independent state. By 1920 he had retired to Gangama hill in Mbale.

Upon retirement Kakungulu led his followers into an obscure group, “Children of the Almighty God.” The group does not believe in the Old Testament of the Bible. He died in 1927 before he could fulfill his dream of building a synagogue for his church in eastern Mbale. But his trees have stood the test of time and remain up to today, a reminder of a man who used political power and clout to promote the cause of the environment