By Delux Emmy Alomu
SERERE
As Uganda marked its 64th Independence Day on October 9, 2026, Serere District chose to honor this occasion by initiating the planting of over 300,000 tree seedlings across homes and various institutions. This effort aims to enhance the environment and combat hunger.
In response to the widespread destruction of trees in the area, residents from Kyere Sub County and Town Council, under the Kyere Development Initiative (KDI) banner, organized the Green Kyere Run. This event is part of their commitment to restoring the district’s green cover, helping to prevent dry spells that lead to crop failures and hunger, issues currently affecting several regions in the country.
In collaboration with partners such as the Acom Foundation, Etop Radio, the Ministry of Water and Environment, Faith in a Tree, Rhoi Uganda, and the Ateker Museum, the initiative mobilized over 71,000 trees as part of the ambitious goal of planting 300,000 by the end of the upcoming year.
Joseph Ebekulasi Otaala, the mobilization coordinator for the Green Kyere Run, highlighted the community’s engagement, noting that various institutions have allocated land for the initiative.
Akuoro-Alupe Primary School has pledged three acres, Kelim Agule PS two acres, Kyere SS two acres, Kyere Town Council ten acres, Kamurojo PS one acre, and each individual participating in the program has received at least one tree to plant, choosing from species such as mango, jackfruit, eucalyptus, avocado, and orange trees.
Nasfer Abigaba, an Assistant Forest Officer with the Ministry of Water and Environment, emphasized the importance of planting 64 trees in every home, symbolizing each year of independence. He urged the community to actively participate in tree planting and to avoid deforestation.
Esther Lucy Acom, the district’s woman MP, has contributed 60 running kits and 100 tree seedlings, promising to provide over 10,000 tree seedlings to each committee in the old Kyere sub-county. Richard Emanio, chairperson of the Acom Foundation, conveyed her commitment to collaborating with the district council to expand this tree planting campaign throughout all sub-counties and town councils.
Former State Minister for Fisheries, Hellen Adoa called on school leaders to ensure that every class plants at least one tree annually and encouraged the community not to wait for the government to supply trees but to cultivate any seedlings available in their surroundings.
Eng. Martin Onguruco, the LCV Chairperson, expressed the intention to extend this campaign to other sub-counties to address climate change collectively.
Chief Guest, Anthony Nseko, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner for Serere, who participated in the 25-kilometer race, remarked that the tree planting initiative aligns with this year’s Independence theme of embracing sovereignty through hope and visionary leadership, reflecting the essence of true leadership.
Faith Ariokot, known for her remarkable tree-hanging feat that lasted 16 hours two years ago, as well as her recent 100-hour movement around a tree, emphasized the importance of tree planting. She believes not planting trees is a significant oversight, noting that it costs virtually nothing to plant and care for them, ensuring they thrive.
Peter Carlos Ebiau, the founding president of the Lions Club of Soroti, shared that their club has successfully planted over 3,000 trees in Serere and aims to increase that number to over 5,000 each year. He urged the community to focus on fruit-bearing trees, like oranges and jackfruit, as a means to combat hunger. Additionally, he called on the government to support local Lions Clubs in their efforts to address global warming.
The campaign brought together numerous politicians, with Abraham Okwalinga, the LC3 representative for Kyere sub-county, voicing that political agendas should be set aside in favor of developmental initiatives like this.
Eddy Opolot, a 66-year-old resident of Omagoro village, suggested that the government should enforce stricter laws to encourage especially the stubborn youth engaged in opium use to participate in tree planting.
Florence Asio from Olupe village expressed the need for tree planting to restore mist and fog, which she believes would help prevent famine.
Margaret Lukuja pointed out that climate change has led to severe storms and unpredictable rainfall, which she argues could be mitigated through increased tree planting efforts.
