Schools can be self-sustaining if engaged in tree planting

Oct 27, 2016

To the dismay of many, these schools have vast pieces of land which are lying idle or few schools are putting the land to good use.

Many schools in Uganda are struggling to offer quality education and other educational services to pupils and students due to lack of enough funding from government.

The problem is mainly in government aided schools, where the communities have left everything to government.

Following the introduction of Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE), many parents gave up on their responsibility to support school development programs.

To the dismay of many, these schools have vast pieces of land which are lying idle or few schools are putting the land to good use.

However, according to James Kusemererwa, the director Toro Initiative for Rural Development (TIRD), the situation can be turned around if schools engage in tree planting.

"Look at our schools they are struggling even to buy chalk and end up not teaching because the government has not sent money. But if they planted trees or practiced agro forestry they could actually have the money," Kusemererwa.

He noted that tree planting is one of the initiatives that schools should take on and it should be a learning area for children.

"If children see their schools with forests they will also develop the sense of protection. But now all school lands are idle. Children come out of school without knowing the importance of trees," said Kusemererwa.

In Kyenjojo district he said that majority of the schools do not even have school gardens.

Kusemererwa is a beneficiary of the Save Uganda plant a tree campaign an initiative of the New Vision and the National Forestry Authority (NFA).

 

He received a total of 25,000 tree seedlings which he distributed to community members in Kyenjojo district.

 

"Our main target is always schools and churches. Why should a church depend on community members to construct a building yet they can plant trees and in just 10 years harvest and get the money," Kusemererwa said.

 

He commended the New Vision and NFA for the partnership which will help protect the environment and enable people get incomes.

"The moment I saw this program, I was so excited to see this Newspaper coming up to help the community and save the environment," Kusemererwa said.

 

Edward Butera hailing from Nakasongola district asked for more sensitization regarding environmental protection.

 

"We need to sensitize people on sustainable usage of forests and the importance of planting trees. People still think it is wastage of time. I have seen the importance of growing trees," Butera said.

 

He asked government to avail a tree fund to supplement the efforts by NFA and New Vision.

 

"Government should look for a fund to support this initiative of giving free seedlings to the community; the initiative is doing wonders," Butera said.

 

Gaston Niyonzima, the NFA sector manager Banda, revealed that with this partnership seedlings are reaching more people than the other initiatives used before.

 

"People from all corners of the country have benefited from this project, we have much hope that they have planted them," Niyonzima said.

 

He noted that the effects of climate change need drastic response which must be all inclusive.

 

"The fight shouldn't be left to New Vision and NFA alone, but other organisations should come on board so that more people are served," Niyonzima said.

 

Micheal Malinga, the National Tree Seed Center manager, advised Ugandans to plant all kinds of trees available and not specifications.

 

"Some trees do well than others in specific areas, so they should take our advice on which trees to plant. Many want eucalyptus and pine but in some areas cannot do well," Malinga said.

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