Former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya has urged the newly-elected Member of Parliament for Bulambuli Constituency, Emmanuel Biara Wepukhulu, to champion large-scale tree planting campaigns aimed at addressing the deadly landslides affecting the Elgon region.
Speaking during celebrations following Wepukhulu’s swearing-in, Professor Bukenya, who is also a Senior Presidential Advisor on Environment and Sanitation, reflected on earlier decades when the slopes of Mount Elgon were still covered with dense natural forest, saying the region rarely experienced the disasters that have now become frequent.
He noted that in the early 1990s, the area was still heavily forested and environmental degradation had not yet reached the current levels linked to recurring landslides and soil erosion.
Professor Bukenya, whose family roots trace back to Bulambuli through his mother Nabulo, said he had frequently visited the Bugisu region in earlier years and had not witnessed the scale of destruction now affecting communities.
He attributed the worsening situation to widespread deforestation and human activity that has significantly reduced forest cover on the mountain slopes.
“During those years, Elgon Forest was green and intact, but now people have cut many trees, which is causing landslides,” Bukenya said.
The former Vice President urged Wepukhulu to use his new mandate to mobilise communities into sustained environmental restoration efforts, warning that failure to act would continue to expose residents to avoidable disasters.
“As the people of Bulambuli have trusted you with their votes, lead them in a tree planting campaign and ensure that every year more trees are planted,” he said.
In response, Wepukhulu pledged to prioritise environmental protection and disaster prevention, describing them as urgent issues affecting his constituency.
Addressing supporters from Bulambuli who travelled to Kampala for his swearing-in celebrations at Time Out Leisure Park, the legislator said the time had come for practical interventions to save lives in landslide-prone areas.
“Now is the time for action. Planting trees and supporting the Team No Sleep initiative will be among my top priorities because I do not want to see our people dying in landslides,” he said.
Wepukhulu was among the first Members of Parliament to take oath on May 13, 2026, officially beginning his five-year term as Bulambuli Constituency representative.
For many residents, the message from both leaders was seen as a call beyond politics, highlighting the link between environmental protection and community survival.
