Centenary Bank, in partnership with the Good Forests Foundation and the Kasese District Local Government, yesterday, November 26th, launched a greening initiative aimed at growing 5,000 fruit and timber trees within Kasese District.
The initiative reinforces Centenary Bank’s deep-rooted commitment to sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and community well-being.
The joint effort aims to enhance the resilience of the local environment, improve air quality, and strengthen collaboration between the private sector and the community.
Speaking at the launch, Emmanuel Otuko, Manager Sustainability at Centenary Bank, emphasized the Bank’s broader commitment to climate action.
“At Centenary Bank, our core mission has always been deeply rooted in serving and empowering the community. This commitment extends beyond financial inclusion—it embraces the long-term well-being of the environment we all share. We firmly believe that sustainable development is not possible without responsible environmental stewardship. Our planet is our most valuable asset, and preserving it is an investment for future generations. This is why sustainability forms a critical pillar of our operations and strategy.”
This greening initiative is a vital component of the bank’s sustainability agenda. Centenary Bank is on a mission to achieve its institutional target of planting at least 70,000 trees across Uganda in 2025, with 60,000 trees already planted in different parts of the country.
Earlier this year, the Bank committed shs60 million to the restoration of 20 hectares of degraded Masindi Central Forest Reserve in partnership with the National Forestry Authority.
According to Uganda’s Third Voluntary National Review Report (2024), the country has made progress in increasing forest cover from 9.5% in 2015 to 13.3%.
However, more work remains to achieve the 15% forest cover target by 2026. The report warns that this recovery is fragile, and continued deforestation could reverse hard-won gains—highlighting the urgency of interventions like this initiative.
Mr. James Thembo, Director of Good Forests Foundation, highlighted the organization’s commitment to ensuring the success of the project.
“Our role is to ensure that these 5,000 trees thrive. This project involves carefully selected fruit and timber tree species that will restore local biodiversity and provide long-term benefits to the Kasese ecosystem. We are proud to partner with Centenary Bank, whose commitment ensures the scale and impact of this critical restoration work.”
Centenary Bank’s sustainability efforts extend beyond tree planting. The bank has transitioned six branches to renewable solar energy to reduce dependence on non-renewable power sources.
It has also introduced specialized Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH) Loans, green loans, solar loans, and power connection loans to support environmentally friendly community-level projects.
The Assistant Resident District Commissioner of Kasese District, Mr. Henry Kabiriri, commended the collaborative spirit behind the initiative and urged the partners to engage more stakeholders for broader impact.
“We are grateful to Centenary Bank and the Good Forests Foundation for bringing this crucial initiative to Kasese. We also appreciate the various Corporate Social Responsibility activities the Bank supports here and beyond. Environmental sustainability requires collective action, and this partnership provides a significant boost to our local conservation efforts," he said.