NFA seeking private investors to plant trees in forest reserves

According to National Forestry Authority (NFA), Uganda loses over 120,000 acres of forest cover annually mainly caused by settlements, cultivation, charcoal burning and timber making.

This has prompted NFA to seek organizations and individuals to voluntarily plant trees at over 10 central forest reserves in the country.

Gilbert Kadilo, NFA public relations manager, told New Vision that they have introduced a corporate tree planting campaign aimed at encouraging private sector to engage in restoration of forests.

"We have sought private players to restore and conserve trees in Uganda through the corporate tree campaign" Kadilo said.

Rotaract Uganda and Airtel have come on board to partner with NFA to plant about 10 million trees at forest reserves.

Rotaract has also come up with an aim to plant over 10,000 trees to each forest reserve in the country for a period of five years.

Following this, Rotaract sent over 200 people on Friday who had gathered at Centenary Park in Kampala and will plant 10,000 trees at Matiri Forest Reserve in Kyenjojo District.

Matiri Forest Reserve serves as a water catchment area for River Muzizi thence calling for a restoration since the evacuation of encroachers in 2014.

Nathan Muwoya Kamba, the Rotaract country chair told New Vision that they kick started the green campaign last year by planting 15,000 in Nakasongola and Busitema.

"During the opening of Rotaract Earth Initiative (REI) campaign, we planted 10,000 trees at West Bugwe Forest Reserve in Busitema and 5000 trees at Nakasongola Prison land" Kamba said.

Kamba added that Rotaract has budgets for sh20m since 2015 aimed at planting tree through their REI campaign.

Meanwhile while in Kyenjojo, Rotaract Club will also provide sanitary towels to about 1000 adolescent girls at Kihambo health centre in Fortpotal district.

 According to a 2015 UNESCO report, about 2 out of 10 adolescent girls living in rural areas of Africa dropout of school during their menstruation cycle which can be solved by sanitary wear.

Kamba said they have procured for sh3m worth of sanitary towels aimed at making young girls stay in school.