Hoima RCC mulls 'tough actions' against schools that do not plant trees

A total of 3,000 trees were planted during the Bwikya Muslim Secondary School campaign.

HOIMA | The Hoima Resident City Commissioner, Mr Badru Mugabi, has directed all schools to plant trees, warning that failure to do so may lead to tough actions.

Mr Mugabi, who was speaking during the Bwikya Muslim Secondary School community planting campaign, said the government is very intentional on greening the country.

"The President is very intentional on tree planting," he said, "now as a Resident City Commissioner on his behalf I implore all schools around Hoima to plant trees."

The RCC said schools on small plots of land can plant trees at the boundaries, explaining that besides marking the boundary it would conserve nature and beautify the school.

But then he warned: "Fail to plant them at your own risk, we know all the schools in Hoima and we will visit them any time."

A total of 3,000 trees were planted during the Bwikya Muslim Secondary School campaign.

Tree cutting is one of the main regressive environmental activities in Bunyoro, with most people cutting down trees either to create land for farming, charcoal or firewood.

Mr Mugabi said the government, through National Forestry Authority, is giving out free tree seedlings to organisations, schools and individuals in the campaign aimed at regreening Uganda.

"So you have no excuse of saying you don't have money to buy tree seedlings, these trees are being given out for free, just come to my office and I will write to NFA or you can reach out to NFA directly and ask for the number of tree seedlings you want," he said.

The RCC also encouraged schools to plant more of fruit and medicinal trees than commercial trees.

"For schools and religious institutions, the government encourages you people to plant more of fruit trees which will improve on the students nutrition, or medicinal trees - we all know why the medicinal trees are important," he said.

"Then for private individuals, they can plant commercial trees like eucalyptus, mahogany, among others, but also ensure that when you cut one tree, plant more five."

Present at the same event, the Hoima City East deputy RCC Moses Muyambi asked schools to also train their students on why it is important to protect nature.

"When you tell the older people why it is important to protect nature they don't listen, it is better that we start with these young generation who can listen but also understand when nature is not protected what are the adverse effects are," Muyambi said.

Bwikya Muslim SS head teacher Abdallah Mbuga said their tree planting activity followed guidance from the National Patriotism Secretariat.

"As patriots, we had to follow guidance from the secretariat, and besides 3,000 trees we planted here, we are going to go on with campaign by encouraging our students to plant trees at their homes," he said.

"The fact is Uganda is no longer the Pearl of Africa that it used to be, it is upon us to ensure that glory is back."