‘Tree planting encourages environmental responsibility among young people’
Schools have increasingly become focal points for environmental education, with government agencies, civil society organisations and private sector institutions partnering to encourage learners to participate in conservation activities from an early age.
Officials from My Tree Initiative Uganda trained learners on proper tree management practices, including watering schedules, mulching, protection against damage and long-term maintenance. (Credit: Nelson Kiva)
WAKISO - About 150 fruit and indigenous trees have been planted at Kira Primary School in Wakiso district as part of efforts to promote environmental conservation and climate awareness among learners.
The exercise, held at the school in Kira Municipality, brought together representatives from GoldStar Insurance, My Tree Initiative Uganda, the Rotary Clubs of Namugongo, Bukerere, Bweyogerere Central, Kyambogo and Kira, as well as teachers, pupils and local leaders, with authorities insisting that the move encourages environmental responsibility among young people.
The initiative saw pupils and volunteers plant a mix of fruit trees including avocado, mango, guava, jackfruit, and indigenous shade trees within the school compound.
According to the organisers, more than 391 pupils received practical training in tree planting, watering and maintenance during the exercise.
The school's Environment Club was tasked with overseeing the care of the trees to improve their survival.
The project forms part of a wider campaign dubbed ‘Planting and Protecting Trees in Schools Across Kira Municipality', which seeks to increase tree cover while equipping learners with knowledge and skills to protect the environment.
“For 30 years, GoldStar has stood with Ugandans through storms, fires, floods and uncertainty. Insurance is, at its heart, a promise about the future, and there is no more honest way to invest in the future than to plant a tree with a child and commit to seeing it grow,” Mudadi said.
He said the company intended the initiative to extend beyond planting trees by encouraging a culture of environmental stewardship in schools and surrounding communities.
“We did not come to Kira Primary School only to plant trees; we came to plant a culture of stewardship. As we mark thirty years, our commitment remains to continue supporting Ugandans and the communities in which they live,” he added.
Officials from My Tree Initiative Uganda trained learners on proper tree management practices, including watering schedules, mulching, protection against damage and long-term maintenance.
Organisers said the fruit trees are expected to begin producing harvests within the next two to three years, providing supplementary food for pupils, while the indigenous shade trees are expected to improve the school environment by reducing soil erosion and providing shade around classrooms.
The project is also expected to contribute to efforts to improve local environmental conditions through increased carbon absorption once the trees mature.
Teachers at Kira Primary School welcomed the initiative, saying it would strengthen environmental education by giving pupils practical responsibility for caring for trees within the school.
The Environmental Club will supervise designated sections of the school compound where the trees have been planted, with pupils expected to participate in routine watering and maintenance throughout the year.
In addition to the tree-planting exercise, GoldStar Insurance donated school bags, T-shirts and learning materials to participating pupils in recognition of their involvement in the environmental campaign.
The tree-planting exercise comes at a time when Uganda continues to promote afforestation and environmental conservation as part of broader efforts to address the effects of climate change, including rising temperatures, soil degradation and flooding in urban and peri-urban areas.
Schools have increasingly become focal points for environmental education, with government agencies, civil society organisations and private sector institutions partnering to encourage learners to participate in conservation activities from an early age.